The Biele and Blatter Families

The families of Charles F. Biele (1854-1930) and Titus Blatter (1858-1912) were intertwined during the late 1880's and early 1900's.

Titus Blatter, originally from Switzerland, emigrated with his family to New York in July 1886.  He married Louisa (also spelled Louise) Schweizer in 1854 and they had a son Eugene Walter in February 1886.  Soon after arriving, a daughter, Mabel, was born in 1887.

According to Titus's application for US citizenship, Charles F. Biele met Titus in July 1986 when he arrived and served as his witness.

Titus Blatter Naturalization Card, witnessed by Charles F. Biele, Aug 26, 1892

Titus Blatter citizenship application, page 1

Titus Blatter citizenship application, page 2, witnessed by Charles F. Biele

Titus Blatter died on April 6, 1913 at his residence at 801 West End Avenue.  The address is on the wealthy Upper West Side of Manhattan in a 12 story building constructed in 1910. 

In 1914, Titus's estate was settled with sizeable wealth passed to his wife and two children. He left each child $10,000 which in current dollars is around $240,000.  His wife Louise received the bulk of the estate, $149,599, which is $3.6 million in today's dollars.

An interesting article soon followed stating his son disappeared the prior year and was believed to be in Uruguay.   

Titus Blatter wealth came from his business that sold lace and other fabrics called Titus Blatter and Company.  The business operated at 164 5th Avenue in Manhattan through the 1940's and later moved to 261 5th Avenue.  It appears to have existed into the 1960's.  Presumably after his death, the business was sold to other operators.  A 1915 directory lists three senior officers and directors with the last name King.      

Titus Blatter & Co at 164 Fifth Avenue circa 1923

164 Fifth Avenue Today

Louise did not remain a widow long.  On November 25, 1914, she and Charles F. Biele were married.  Charles' first wife Fredericke died in 1911.  They were married in a joint ceremony with his daughter Fredericke at the Hotel Savoy in New York.

Marriage certificate for Charles F. Biele and Louise Blatter 1914 (note Louise's daughter Mabel is a witness)

Joint wedding for Charles F. Biele to Louise Blatter (nee Schweizer) and Alma Biele to Rudolph Helbing at the Hotel Savoy in New York City on November 25, 1914.  Charles and Louise are seated at the head of the table.

 Eugene Blatter eventually came back to the United States.  By 1918 he had registered for the World War I draft and listed Mrs. Charles F. Biele as his closest relative.

    By 1920, Bernard had moved to Norwich, NY to live with Charles' sister Anna Biele Naumann.  He is listed in the 1920 and 1930 census living with her and worked at a silk factory.  He died in 1947.

After their marriage, Charles and Louise continued to live on the Upper West Side and a presumably comfortable life.  Almost ever year they traveled together to Europe during the summer.  After Charles's death in 1930, Louisa continued traveling to Europe at least through 1937.

Charles F. Biele died on January 30, 1930, five days after his 76th birthday.  In his will he stated the following regarding Louise:

     SECOND:- I give and bequeath to my dear wife Louise Blatter Biele, the sum of FIVE THOUSAND Dollars ($5,000.00) absolutely and forever.

     The reason why I have not made a larger bequest to my wife Louise Blatter Biele is, because she has expressly requested me during our mutual conversations not to do so, as she is financially well situated and is not in need of any bequest or devise from me, and in not making larger bequest or devise for and to my dear wife Louise Blatter Biele I am complying with her own expressed wish and request; but I have the deepest love and affection for my dear wife Louise.

In the 1940 census.  She is 77 years old and living by herself at 845 West End Avenue.

Louise died on October 22, 1947.  The last record fround to date is a notice from the Daily Argus, Mount Vernon NY that she left $1,000 and a fur cap to her daughter in law Fredericke B. Helbing.   

Daily Argus, Mt. Vernon NY,  November 5, 1947

Ewald Biele became a US Citizen 132 years ago today

On September 1, 1884, one hundred and thirty two years ago today, Ewald Biele (1863-1912) became a citizen of the United States.

This certificate is a recent addition to my collection.  Thank you Brandi!  It was found for sale at an antique shop in Nashville and is believed to have been acquired from an estate sale in the area.  How this certificate of Ewald Biele, who lived his whole life in New York City, is a bit of a mystery.  One theory is that is was passed onto his daughter Edith (1897-1981) who moved from New York City to Daytona Beach, Florida in the late 1920s.  In 1938 she married Winder Cowan who was originally from Franklin, TN which is in the Nashville area.  It is possible that after his death in 1980 or Edith's death in 1981 that a member of his family in Tennessee took possession of it and brought it back there.

More information on Edith and Winder "Red" Cowan can be found a be found in my August 30, 2015 post.

More information on Ewald can be found at the following webpage.

Below is a copy of the naturalization card for Ewald from the NYC archives. It has the same date as the certificate and includes the address he lived at the time, 218 Rivington in New York City.  The Caspar Biele family lived there together when they first emigrated to America.  It is in lower Manhattan and in the 1800's was an area of immigrant tenants known as "Little Deutschland".  Note that the witness was his brother Charles F. Biele who became a citizen in 1878.  His address was 77 Pitt St. which was just around the corner.  More information can be found at the following webpage and more or less the same information at this webpage.  For more Biele naturalization cards, please see my July 4, 2012 post.  

Naturalization Card for Ewald Biele.