Jahn

The Jahn family in America starts with Max Joseph Jahn and his wife Maria Magdalena Richter. They were both born and raised in Bavaria, Germany. They came to America separately. Not much is known about them before their marriage in Brooklyn, NY.

Max Joseph Jahn
aka Joseph M. Jahn

Birth:
Born March 24, 1872, most likely in Altenkundstadt, Lichtenfels District, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. His parents were Frederik Jahn and Magdalena Schenbel. Given the German naming conventions, these names might have been his parents middle names.

No other immediate relatives have been identified. However, there were a good number of individuals with the surname Jahn in Brooklyn at the same time, which are being investigated/

Maria Magdalena Richter
aka Lena Rüchter

Birth:
Lena Richter was born in Forchheim, Bavaria, Germany on October 16, 1871. Her parents were Gabriel Richter and Anna Erlwein.  Given the German naming conventions, these names might have been her parents middle names.

Only one sibling of Lena’s has been identified so far. John Richter was born Nov. 18,1873 in Forchheim, Bavaria. He came to America in 1896 and spent pretty much the rest of his life in the Portland, Oregon area. He died in Vancouver, Washington (8 miles from Portland in 1938.

Immigration and Naturalization:

Joseph M. Jahn arrived in New York City on October 9, 1895 sailing from the port of Bremen, Germany on the Habsburg. He was 23, single, occupation baker. No other family appear to be traveling with him. 

Joseph became a U.S. Citizen on Nov. 15, 1905.

Dates for Lena Richter’s immigration vary on the available records. 1888 is the most probable.

  • 1882 (1917 death record)
  • 1888 (1910 census and 1915 Census)
  • 1891 (1900 Census)

Occupation

Joseph has been described in various records as a baker, confectioner, pastry chef, wholesale baker, employee and employer.

He was already a baker when he came to Brooklyn in 1895. His children learned the bakery business by working for him.

Along with her roles as wife and mother, Lena worked in the bakery, was the store keeper, and made time for volunteer work benefiting other German immigrant families.

One such example of her community service was in 1913, while serving as Vice-President of the Women’s Auxiliary for the German Hospital in Brooklyn (which was comprised of over 400 members!), she was instrumental in organizing a big fund raiser for that hospital. (Source: 25 Apr 1913 Brooklyn Eagle Newspaper)

Marriage

Less than a year after his arrival in the US, Joseph Jahn married Maria Magdelena Richter (aka “Lina Richter”) in Brooklyn, Kings County. New York. She had already been living there for at least 8 years. They were married on the 12th of August, 1896. Their Marriage Record #M-K-1896-4330 indicates they were both living at 310 Central Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. This is the Bushwick neighborhood. He was 23 and she was 25. Neither had been previously married. Both state they were born in Germany. His occupation was noted as Confectioner. His parents’ names were abbreviated on the certificate as Fred. Jahn and Magd. Schenbel. Her parents’ names were Gabriel Richter and Anna Erlwein. The witnesses were Fred Mandretts and Julia Janesch. The name of the pastor/priest is unreadable (by this writer.) The address for the pastor was 151 Leonard St., Brooklyn, NY.  

Religion: Roman Catholic

While it is unknown whether Joseph or Lena Jahn were baptized Roman Catholic at birth, they apparently attended Roman Catholic churches in Brooklyn, New York. Their children were baptized as Roman Catholics. Joseph Jahn’s death was celebrated with a requiem mass. Both Joseph and Lena were buried, as were their children, in Roman Catholic cemeteries. 

Brooklyn, New York City Residences (1896-1917) of Lena & Joseph Jahn

  • 1889/1890. Lena Richter, 244 Barbey, Brooklyn. No occupation noted. (1889/1890 Brooklyn, NY Directory, Ancestry.com)
  • Aug. 1896: 310 Central Avenue (Kings County marriage record)
  • Feb. 1897: 1214 Central Avenue (birth record of Ludwig Frederick Jahn).
  • Jun. 1898: 324 Central Avenue (birth record of Gabriel Leopold Jahn)
  • Feb. 1900: 1209 Gates Avenue (death record of infant Herbert M.J. Jahn)
  • Jun. 1900: 1209 Gates Avenue (U.S. Census)
  • Jun. 1901: 312 Floyd Street (birth record of Max Joseph Jahn)
  • Jan. 1904: 201 Covert Street (birth records of Lena Jahn and Andrew Joseph Jahn)
  • Jul. 1904: 446 DeKalb Street (death record of Andrew Joseph Jahn).
  • Oct/Nov 1905: 446 DeKalb Street (naturalization record of Joseph M. Jahn)
  • Apr. 1910: 714 Washington Street (U.S. Census)
  • Jun. 1915: 127 57th Street (N.Y. State Census)
  • Oct. 1917: 5721 Fifth Avenue (Kings Co. death record – Lena Jahn)

Brooklyn, New York City Residences (1918-1930) of Joseph Jahn

  • Jan. 1920 : 125 57th Street (U.S. Census). He now owns his home, with a mortgage. He rents two apartments in his home to other families. 

Brooklyn, New York City Residences (1930-1943) of Joseph Jahn and 2nd wife Fanny Grosser Jahn

  • 1930: 232 95th Street (U.S. Census). Fanny Grosser is listed as Joseph’s cousin, not married. Joseph owns this building.
  • Apr. 1931: 232 95 Street (Kings Co. marriage record )
  • 1935: 232 95th Street (1940 U. S. Census)
  • Apr. 1940: 232 95th Street (1940 U. S. Census)
  • Jan. 1943: 232 95th Street (Kings. Co. death record)

Children of Lena Richter & Joseph M. Jahn

  1. Ludwig Frederick Jahn – Their first child, Ludwig Frederick Jahn was born on February 25, 1897 at 1PM. Certificate #B-K-2442. The family was now living at 1214 Central Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Joseph’s occupation was cake baker. The child was known as Fred and/or Fritz. Frederick was baptized at St. Leonard’s of Port Maurice Roman Catholic Church about a month later, March 28 1897. A copy of his baptism record can be obtained from the Brooklyn Diocese with a small donation. It’s on Book 5, Page 67, Entry 696. Source: https://germangenealogygroup.com/records-search/baptisms.php
  2. Gabriel Leopold Jahn – Gabriel Leopold Jahn was born next, on June 21, 1898 at 6:45 am. Birth Certificate #B-K-9636. The home address is 324 Central Avenue, Brooklyn. “Leo” Jahn was baptized at the same Roman Catholic Church as his brother Fred. A copy of Leo’s baptism record can be obtained from the Brooklyn Diocese with a small donation. is on Book 5, Page 91, Entry 1418.  Source: https://germangenealogygroup.com/records-search/baptisms.php
  3. Herbert M. J. Jahn – A third child, Herbert M. J. Jahn was born about November 1899. He died at the age of 3 months on Feb. 28, 1900. The cause was Cardiac Paralysis, Acute meningitis. The family was living at 1209 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn. Herbert is buried at Most Holy Trinity (R.C.) Cemetery, Brooklyn. 
  4. Max Joseph Jahn – On June 13, 1901, their fourth son was born. His name on the birth record (#B-K-1901-0012566) is written two ways: Max J. Jahn, and on the other line, Max Joseph Jahn. His parents called him Hans. Later on he was known by the name John Max Jahn and also Charles Max Jahn. He was born at 312 Floyd Street, Brooklyn. The record shows that 3 children were born before him and only 3 children in all are living. John M. Jahn was baptized on June 22,1901 at All Saints Roman Catholic Church of Brooklyn. 
  5. Lena Jahn – On January 29, 1904, fraternal twins were born. The family was living at 201 Covert St., Brooklyn. The mother is 33 and the father is 31. The girl was named “Lena Jahn” on the birth certificate. She is later called Madeline A. Jahn. The birth record #B-K-2671. indicates there were 5 children born before her, and only four, including her, are living. The mother’s name is Maria M. Jahn, née Rüchter. 
  6. Joseph Jahn – The other twin was named Joseph Jahn on Birth Certificate #B-K-2711. Somewhat contradictory, his record indicates four children were previously born, and 4 are now living. Joseph died at 5 months, 15 days old, at 4:30 am July 15, 1904. The address of his death was 446 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn. On his death record #D-K-14513 he is called Andrew J. Jahn. The cause of death was “intestinal enteritis, malnutrition (bottle fed), asthenia”. Contributing factor was “syncope,” which means a loss of consciousness. He had been sick for 3 months.  Now called Andrew Joseph Jahn, the infant was buried at Most Holy Trinity (R.C.) Cemetery two days later. 

1903 Family trip to Bavaria

In 1903, Joseph (31) and Lena (32) Jahn took their three boys, Fritz (6), Leo (5), and Hans (1-11/12) to Germany. They most likely went to see relatives. Their return trip passenger record indicates their residence in Germany was Altenkundstadt.  As Lena was born in Forchheim, this leads to the assumption that the trip was to visit the Jahn family. Joseph’s occupation was Konditor, Geselle “Confectioner.”  The ship was called the Fürst Bismarck. Their accommodation was Zwischendeck “steerage” on the return trip. Sailing from Hamburg, the ship had stops in Cherbourg France, then Southhampton, England before arriving in NYC on Sept 3, 1903.  

Joseph M. Jahn’s Death

Joseph Jahn died at his home on January 31, 1943 at the age of 70.  He had lived in New York City for 46 years.  His obituary reads: 

JAHN – January 31, JOSEPH M., beloved husband of Fanny (nee Gressar), and dear father of Frederick, Leo, John and Mrs. Mildred Kelly. Funeral from his residence, 232 95th Street, Thursday; solemn requiem mass St. Patrick’s Church. 11 am. Interment St. John’s Cemetery.

(Source: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tuesday February 02, 1943.) 

Joseph Jahn was buried on February 4, 1943 in Section 13, Row K, Grave 225 along side his first wife Maria Magdalena Richter Jahn. 

Joseph’s estate was settled in Probate Court. It was dated Jan. 31, 1943. Book #1191 page 43.

Lena Jahn’s Death

Lena Jahn died of breast cancer on October 6, 1917 at 4 pm, a few days shy of her 47th birthday. Her death record stated Lena had been in this country for 35 years (since about 1882). She had been receiving medical care for her illness for 3 years (since Nov. 10, 1914). Her residence was 5721 5th Avenue. Death Certificate B-D-19796.

Lena was buried 3 days later at St. John’s Cemetery, in Section 13, Row K, Grave 225.  The cemetery address is 80-01 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, Queens, New York, 11379. 

Lena’s estate was settled in Probate court at the request of her husband. Dated Oct 23, 1918. Letters. L.228 p. 221, Bonds, L. 310 p. 51. Their 3 sons and 1 daughter are mentioned. Lena’s estate was worth no more than $500. With inflation, this amount has the value of just under $12,000. It was probably comprised of both her personal belongings and money.

On June 29, 1921, a petition was filed regarding a Transfer Tax. Book 28, Page 60.

2nd Marriage for Joseph M. Jahn to Fanny Grosser

Joseph Jahn, a widower, married Fanny Grosser (aka Grasser/Gresser), a single woman, with no children, on April 16, 1931. He was 59 and she was 35 (two years older than Joseph’s son Fred). She was 5’4”, brown hair, green eyes, fair complexion. 

Marriage Certificate -1931-0004561Download

Fanny was born on Oct. 24, 1895 in Hirschau, Amberg-Sulzbach, Bavaria, Germany to Joseph Grosser and Magdalena Auger. She had arrived in New York on March 11, 1926 on the vessel Bremen. Her last residence in Germany was Amberg. 

In the summer of 1931 Joseph and his new wife Fanny Jahn traveled to Germany to see her father Joseph Grosser who was living in Hirschau, Bavaria. Joseph and Fanny’s last residence on the trip was Altdorf. They left Germany on August 25 on the vessel Resolute from Hamburg, arriving in New York on September 3. They had $600 in their possession, which would be valued at $951 in 2023.  Joseph had a US Passport that was issued on 4/20/1931. The number looks like 364917 issued in Wash. Fanny’s application for Naturalization was still pending so she must have used a German passport. 

Fanny took her oath of allegiance for Naturalization on May 17, 1932. 

32126_23157790480245-00063Download

On the 1940 Census, Joseph (67) and Fanny (45) Jahn are still in the home he owns at 232 95th Street, Brooklyn. Both Joseph and Fanny say they completed 4 years of high school but did not attend college. In the past, Joseph said he finished 8th grade. His occupation is Baker, but neither of them worked the past year. 

Fanny is mentioned in Joseph’s obituary in 1943. 

On the 1950 Census, Fanny (now called Frances Jahn) is living at 232 95th Street with her step-daughter Madeline Jahn (46) Kelly, step-son-in-law Thomas A. (49) Kelly and her step-grandchildren Thomas (21) and Maureen (16)  Kelly. This is the house that Joseph Jahn owned and his bakery was downstairs (Fred & John owned the Jahn Brothers bakery/restaurant on 714 Washington Avenue that Leo worked at and lived above with his young family).

I haven’t been able to get a copy of Joseph Jahn’s probate record to see who inherited his estate (but I have a request into the Kings County Surrogate’s office to find out how I can get it), his widow, or his grown children, or all of them?  While there are some mistakes on the census record (sloppy enumerator) Frances is now 55 years old and she is working as a clerk in the Bakery. So she’s been a member of the Jahn family for about 20 years by then. 

“Jahn Family in Brooklyn.”
Copyright 2023. Veronica Doran Westbo, GenealogySisters.com