Louie Blanck was born on May 9, 1887 at 43 Willow St., Hoboken, New Jersey to Heinrich Blank, age 39, born in Germany, occupation, shoemaker and Minna Erxmeyer, age 41, born in Germany.

Marriage of Louie Blanck and Gertrude Kettler

March 16, 1907 in Hoboken, New Jersey, Louie Blank of 213 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, age 20, white, driver, born in USA, son of Henry Blank and Melusine "Erxmeyre" married Gertrude Kettler of 253 3rd Street, Hoboken, age 21, white, born in the USA, daughter of Fritz Kettler and Hanna Peterson. The witnesses were Andrew Sharpe and Marie Poproutti. The minister was, Pastor, J. Rudolph, Ger. E.. ( Civil Record, State of New Jersey)

Louis Blank of 213 Willow Avenue, born May 9, 1887 in Hoboken, the son of Hein. and Melusine, nee Erxmeyer, married Gertrude Kettler of 253 3rd. Street, Hoboken, born April 11, 1886 in Hoboken, daughter of Fritz and Hanna, nee Peterson. Witnesses Andrew Sharp and Marie Poproutti. (German Evangelical Church records, on March 16, 1907)

Notes:

• Gertrude was born in Red Hook, Brooklyn on April 11, 1889, not 1886. She was only 18 at the time of her marriage.
• 235 3 rd Street is between Park and Willow.
• Nothing on Marie Poproutti
• No Andrew Sharp/Sharpe in Hoboken
• 213 Willow was an apartment building where several Blanck related families lived. By 1905 the building was owned by Louie Blanck's aunt, Julia Erxmeyer Lehman. See Hoboken Dwellings Blanck and Erxmeyers

Children of Louie and Gertrude

Louie Blanck and Gertrude Kettler had:

1. Dorothy Marie Augusta Blanck, AKA Henrietta, 1907

   "Dorothy Blanck" was born on December 25, 1907 at 185 Spring Street in West Hoboken to Louis Blanck born in Hoboken and Gertrude Kettler born in Brooklyn, age of father 20, occupation, teamster, age of mother, 19, occupation, house wife, first child of the marriage (Civil records for the state of New Jersey)

   "Heinrette Marie Augusta Blank", address 185 Spring Street, West Hoboken was born on December 25, 1907 in West Hoboken, to Louis and Gertrude, nee, Kettler. The sponsors are Herman Blank, Marie Gavin and Hanna Jensen (Baptismal records of the German Evangelical Church, Hoboken)

   Notes:

   • Heinrich Blanck's mother and Melusine's mothers were both named Dorothy.
   • Herman Blank was Louis's brother.
   • Marie Gavin. I do not know how she may have been related to the Blancks. Nothing in Hoboken with this spelling on Ancestry. Nothing in the bride's index at German Genealogy Group.
   • Hanna Jensen was Gertrude's mother, Hanna Peters Jensen
   • Dorothy was known in the officials records as Dorothy. However, to her brother she was known as Etta and her nephews called her, Aunt Etta.
   • 185 Spring street: West Hoboken is now Union City. Spring street in now Berginline avenue. In 1903 there were a number of businesses on Spring Street, West Hoboken.

   Marriage: Dorothy , AKA Aunt Etta, married John Foley after 1930 and had one daughter, Maureen in 1944. Dorothy, age 22, was listed with her parents in the 1930 census.

   Child: Maureen September 14, 1944 - married Frank Albano born 14 March 1944 - They have three sons.

   Name Change: On September 26, 1952 Dorothy Blanck Foley had a change of name form registered with the state of New Jersey changing the spelling from "Blank" to "Blanck". At that time she said she was baptized at St. Joseph's in Union City. She converted to Roman Catholicism when she married John Foley.

   WWII - John Foley: John J Foley Birth Year: 1903 Race: White, citizen (White) Nativity State or Country: New York State of Residence: New Jersey County or City: Hudson Enlistment Date: 7 Jul 1942 Enlistment State: New Jersey Enlistment City: Newark Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life Education: Grammar school Civil Occupation: Unskilled routemen Marital Status: Married Height: 67 Weight: 161

   Note: Grave notation says he served in WWII.

   Death of Dorothy M. Blanck Foley: Dorothy Blanck died in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1982. Dorothy Foley BIRTH: 25 Dec 1907, DEATH: Dec 1982 - Asbury Park, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States of America CIVIL: New Jersey OTHER: Asbury Park, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States of America

   Dorothy M Foley Birth: 1907 Death: 1982 Burial: Saint Catharine's Cemetery Sea Girt Monmouth County New Jersey, USA

   Asbury Park Press: 7 December 1982, Dorothy Foley, age 74, of Ocean Avenue died at the Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. S She was born in Hoboken, lived in Union City and moved to Asbury Park in 1973. Communicant of Holy Spirit RC Church. Survived by her husband, John, daughter Maureen, and three grandchildren

   Death of John Foley: John Foley, SSN: 067-01-6122, Last Residence: 07712 Asbury Park, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States of America, Born: 11 Jan 1903, Died: Feb 1985, State (Year) SSN issued: New York (Before 1951)

   John J Foley, Birth Date: 11 Jan 1903, Age at Death: 82, Death Date: 25 Feb 1985, Burial Place: St Catherine's Cemetery, Sea Girt, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA, World War II

   Asbury Park Press: 26 February 1985, John J Foley, age 82, of Asbury Park died at the Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune. He was born New York and lived in Union city, New Jersey before moving to Asbury Park in 1973. He was employed by the Eastern Express Co. Metuchen for 20 years before retiring in 1968. A member of the Teamsters Union and Navy veteran of WW I and a Army veteran of WWII. His wife Dorothy died in 1982. He was survived by his daughter Maureen and three grandchildren

2. Louis James Blanck

   Louis "Blank" was born on June 30, 1909 at 303 Willow Avenue in Hoboken to Louis Blank, age 22, driver, born in the U.S. and Gertrude Kettler, age 20, born in the U.S, second child of this marriage. (Civil Record State of New Jersey)

   Louis James Blanck, the son of Louis and Gertrude, nee, Kettler was born on June 30, 1909 in Hoboken and baptized on July 18, 1909. Sponsors were, James and May Avon. (German Evangelical Church)

   Notes:

   • I did not find anything obvious on May and James Avon.

   Louis Blanck, Junior, does not appear to have married. According to his, brother, John Blanck, Louis Blanck, Jr. died in the late 1940's or early 1950's of TB.

3. John Frederick Blanck

   John Fredrick Blanck was born July 4, 1915 at 107 Willow Avenue in Hoboken to Louis Blanck, age 27, laborer, born in Hoboken and Gertrude Kettler, age 26, born in Brooklyn, the third of three children by this marriage (Civil Record State of New Jersey).

   John Fred. Josef Blanck of 107 Willow Avenue was born July 4, 1915 in Hoboken to Louis and Gertrude, nee, Kettler and baptized on July 20, 1915. Sponsors were, Fred. Kettler and Josefine Sullivan.

   (German Evangelical Church)

   Notes:

   • John Fredrich Blanck was named for a long line of John Freidrich Blancks
   • Fred Kettler was Gertrude's brother.
   • Josephine Sullivan. As expected, there were several Josephine Sullivans in Hoboken.
   • From at least 1897 to 1916 107 Willow was the address of William Mollers Hardware store.

   Marriage: Alice Azarian

   Children:

   1. Denis, 1943

   2. Tom 1944

   See John Blanck

The 1910 Federal Census

Louis Blanck at 303 Willow Avenue in Hoboken with an interesting household:

1. Louis, head of household, age 24, married 3 years, born in NJ, German father, German mother, occupation wagon driver for moving van.
2. Gertrude, wife, age 22, married 3 years, 2 children, born in New York, German father, Norwegian mother.
3. Henrietta, age 2, born in NJ
4. Louis, age 10 months, born in NJ
5. Fredrick Kettler, brother-in-law, age 18, born in NJ, German father, Norwegian mother, occupation, locksmith.
6. Henry Kettler, brother-in-law, age 15, born in NJ, German father, Norwegian mother.
7. Herman Jensen, brother-in-law, age 17, born in Denmark. Mother and father both Danish. Immigrated in 1893. Working as a drill press operator for an electrical works.

Note: The relationships listed are to the head of household, in this case, Louis Blanck. Frederick Kettler and Henry Kettler were Gertrude's brothers. Fritz Kettler the father of Gertrude, Frederick and Henry died in 1896. Fritz's widow, Hannah Peters/Petersen Kettler, married Johannus Jensen of Denmark in Hoboken in 1898. Herman Jensen was the son of Johannus Jensen by a previous marriage making him technically, a step brother-in-law.

Questions: This is basically a household of teenagers. Why were Frederick Kettler, Henry Kettler and Herman Jenses living with Louie and Gertrude and not with Hanna and Johannus Jensen?

Louis Blanck, Residence Year: 1915, 1918 Street Address: 109 Willow av, Residence Place: Hoboken, New Jersey, Occupation: Lab, Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1915

The 1915 New Jersey State Census

The 1915 census in New Jersey listed the family of Louis Blanck renting at 107 Willow Avenue, Hoboken as follows:

• Louis, born May 1889, age 26, born New Jersey, laborer
• Gertrude, born April 1890, age 25, born in New Jersey
• Henrietta, born December 1907, age 7, born in New Jersey
• Louis, Jr., born June 1809, age 5, born in New Jersey

Henrietta was listed as enrolled in School No. 5.

Notes

• The census must have been taken before the birth of John on July 4, 1915
• They were listed in the same building as Louie's brother, Herman Blanck, and Gertrude's brother, Frederick Kettler
• Gertrude was born in Brooklyn, New York
• 107 Willow Avenue is between 1st and 2nd Streets.

Louie Blanck, 1917 Draft Registration

The 1917 draft registration lists Louis Blanck, 107 Willow Avenue, age 30, born May 9, 1887 in Hoboken, occupation, lumber handler at Lawson and Mc Murray, 16 Clinton Street, Hoboken, wife and three children under 12 years, physical description, short, slender, blue eyes, brown hair.

Lawson & McMurray

1907: Lawson & MacMurray, Sixteenth and Clinton Sts., Lumber Dealers.

1918:

July 14. Ninety men employed as lumber handlers by Lawson & McMurray, at a lumber yard in Hoboken, struck for an increase of wages. After joining the teamster's union, all returned to work. The strike lasted 9 days and was settled by a compromise which gave a raise to the men, but the amount was less than demanded. The wage loss was $2,016.

Annual Report By New Jersey. Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries

1919: December Ad

"MEN to handle lumber - hours 7 to 5:30 - half day Saturday - wages 45 cents a hour - if you want steady work under good working conditions apply to - 16th and Clinton strs - LAWSON & MC MURRAY - Hoboken"

1922: May 27, 1922

NEW JERSEY FIRM LOSES

Lawson &. McMurray Yard at Hoboken Visited by Disactrous Blaze

NEW YORK, N. Y., May 17 In addition to a property damage which is estimated at a quarter of a million dollars, a fire which swept the lumber yards and plant of the Lawson & McMurray Company, of Hoboken, N. J., yesterday, is regarded as particularly unfortunate by officials of the company, because of the fact that it came at the height of the busiest season the firm has had in years.

Recently the firm has been engaged extensively in the manufacture of sectional houses, and, according to Edwin D. McMurray, the destruction of a large part of the plant, including the elaborate overhead crane system will seriously retard the efforts of the company to keep up with the demand for these houses which for the past few weeks have kept the big plant working to capacity. Mr. McMurray, however, has lost no time in entering into negotiations for new machinery and for the reconstruction of the ruined buildings, and he is hopeful that operations will probably approach normal again within a couple of weeks.

The Southern Lumberman, Volume 106

1922: The saw and planing mill of Lawson & McMurray was damaged by fire estimated loss $2000,000. (Lumber World Review, Volume 42)

In 1918 Emil Luckhardt born 1892 was the assistant foreman at Lawson & McMurray.

1920 Federal Census

Louis and Gertrude Blanck were listed in the 1920 census at 107 Willow Avenue, Hoboken under the names William Blanck and Clara Blanck. Don't ask me why.

• William Blanck, head of house, age 35, born in NJ, German mother and father, working as a lumberman in a lumberyard.
• Clara, wife, age 33, born in NJ, German mother and father, occupation, janitress.
• Henrietta, daughter , age 12, born in NJ
• Louis, son, age 10 born in NJ
• John, son, age 4, born in NJ.

I am positive that this is Louie, Gertrude et al., even given the problems with the parent's names and ages (which are both off by 2 years). Having looked at lots of census records, this one has more things right with it than wrong with it:

• The limited number of Blancks in the 1920 census in Hoboken and the fact that they are all part of one family.
• The names, ages, and birth order of the children.
• The occupations of the head of household is consistent with Louis's occupation as listed on other records. It is also consistent that the wife is working as a janitress. Gertrude's sister-in-law, Minnie was listed as an "office cleaner" in the same census and her mother-in-law, Minnie, is listed as a "janitress" in the 1910 census.
• The real clincher is the 107 Willow Street address. Gertrude and Louis Blanck, Fredrick Kettler, and Herman Blanck were all living at this address in the 1915 State Census. 107 Willow Street was also Louie and Gertrude's address at the birth of John Blanck in 1915.
• Gertrude's brother Fredrick Kettler was living at the same address.

1930 Federal Census

170 Summit Avenue, Union City, "Blanch", Louis, head R $40, age 42, married at age 20, born New Jersey, father Germany, mother Germany, laborer, lumber yard, Gertrude, age 39, married at age 18, born, New York, father, Germany, mother, Norway, Henrietta, daughter age 22, born New Jersey, clerical office, Louis, Jr. son, age 20, born New Jersey, clerical, office, John, son, age 14 born New Jersey.

Death of Louie Blanck, Senior, 1935, TB

Louis Blanck, Jersey City Medical Center, 704 Willow Street Hoboken, wife, Gertrude Kettler, born May 9, 1887, 48 years 0 months and 16 days, laborer, born Hoboken, mother, Melusine Erxmeyer, born Germany, father, Henry Blanck, born Germany, died June 6, 1935 at 12:59 A.M. at Jersey City Medical Center, signed Gertrude Blanck, cause of death, pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculosis of the larynx, after an illness lasting from March 21, 1935 until his death. He was buried in the Hoboken Cemetery in Hudson County, New Jersey on June 8, 1935.

Tuberculosis (TB) was a relatively common disease at the time. Pulmonary TB was the most common form of the disease. Laryngeal tuberculosis was sometimes a complication of advanced pulmonary tuberculosis.

Death of Gertrude Kettler Blanck, 1938, Heart Disease

Gerturde (Blank) corrected to Blanck, widow of Louis Blanck, born April 11, 1889, corrected to 1890*, age 49 years 06 months and 25 days, housewife, last worked October 25, 1938, born Brooklyn, New York, to Henry Kettler born Germany and Johanna Peterson born Norway, signed Dorothy Blanck 1122 Hudson Street, Hoboken, died on November 5, 1938 at 12:45 P.M. at St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken, New Jersey of cardiac decompensation from hypertensive heart disease, after an illness of 6 days. A contributing factor was diabetic mel??. She was buried in the Hoboken Cemetery on November 8, 1938.

* She was born in 1889.

1940 Census

As of July 2016 I did not find Dorothy (Blanck/Blank/Foley), Louis or John in the 1940 census.

Comments

John Blanck, the youngest son of Louis and Gertrude, rarely spoke of his childhood and/or his parents. He often indicated that he had been orphaned at an early age and been raised by his sister, Etta. He insinuated that he had been a mere child when his parents died. I was surprised to learn that he had been 20 when his father died and 23 when his mother died. He was 18 when his maternal grandmother, Hannah Peters Kettler Blanck died. It was, of course, a very young age to lose one's parents, but I had expected a much younger age.

He also eluded to the fact that his brother, Louis, had TB and died in somewhat destitute circumstances in the late 40s or Early 50s.

With two members of his family suffering from TB John was surely exposed to the disease.

On occasion he took his sons, Tom and Denis, to visit his father's siblings, Uncle John and Tanta Minnie, in Hoboken.

He remained relatively close to his sister, Etta.

Dorothy (Etta) Blanck married John Foley. For more information on Etta and John, click on the picture of their daughter, Maureen

John Blanck married married Alice Azarian. For more information on John and Alice, click on the picture of John Blanck