Haus Biele Update

In an earlier post, Haus Biele 2012 Blog, I wrote about the original Biele homestead in Hovestadt Germany.  Last week, I was in Germany in business and was able to make a side trip to the Westphalia region of Germany to visit Hovestadt and other towns in the area.My destination included Haus Biele.

Sign in Hovestadt between the Rathaus (City Hall) and Haus Biele

Front of Haus Biele

Back of Haus Biele

Lobby area in Haus Biele

Picture in the Haus Biele lobby of when Haus Biele was still a Gasthof

During its restoration Haus Biele was completely renovated and now serves as a Burgerburo (city office).  What was once a working farm, residence, brewery, hotel, and gathering place now serves the Lippetal area in a different function.

Biele Family Crest

The crest of the Biele family from Hovestadt features a hatchet and a duck.  According to a Biele in Germany -  

In "low german" Biele means Beil and that means hatchet. At that time, each family belonged to a guild. The ax is the sign for butcher. The duck is the animal which was slaughtered. The water also has a meaning. It is an indication of milling and brewing rights.

At Haus Biele in Hovestadt the family operated a guest house and a distillery.  See Haus Biele blog post from Dec 2012 

There is a tradition in Germany within some Biele families for parents to give their children a ring with the family crest on their 18th birthday.  Boys often get one in gold and girls with lapislazuli and onyx. 

Biele crest that hung in Haus Biele

Biele crest on the label of a liquor from the Biele distillary

Biele crest on a signet ring

Tracing the Biele Tree Back in Time

I have been working on tracing the Biele family as far back as possible and have a few new leads. The tree I have been able to establish to date is as follows (starting with my grandfather)

Charles Edward Biele (1905 - 1983) - born in New York City, New York, USA

Carl Frederick Biele (1878 - 1964) - born in New York City, New York, USA

Friedrich Carl (Charles Frederick) Biele (1854 - 1930) - born in Barmen, Germany

Caspar Biele (1823 - 1875) - born in Hovestadt, Germany

August Clemens Biele (1773 - 1833) - born in Hovestadt, Germany

Joannes Fridericus (Frederick) Biele - (1730 - 1813) - born in Hovestadt, Germany

Joannes Matthias Biele (In De Bile)

In the later records, the last name changes at times between "In De Bile", "In De Biele" and "In Der Bile".  This may be from the way they were written in the original church records or how they were later transcribed by others.

All of the family members before Joannes Matthias have church or civil records establishing their birth dates and places.  The records for those listed as being born in Hovestadt include churches in Oestinghausen and Erwitte.  Joannes Matthias is recorded in church records for the christening of his children and his marriage.  In the "Haus Biele" publication, Joannes is listed as being born around 1700 and died around 1760 but it does not state where those dates come from.

The record I found that might be connected is one for "Joannes Matthias In Der Bile" christen on 04 Nov 1688, at the Catholic church in Rheine.  His father is listed as "Melchioris In Der Bile".  

There are several records that might be connected in Rheine.  Note that sometimes the mother is listed and sometimes only the father.  In summary, they are:

Matthias In De Biele, christened 02 Apr 1682, father Melchioris In De Biele, no mother listed, location Rheine

Christophorus Matthias In De Biele, christened 10 Apr 1684, father Melchioris In De Biele, no mother listed, location Rheine  

Gertrudis In De Bile, christened 30 Jul 1687, father Melchioris In De Bile, no mother listed, location Rheine

Joannes Matthias In Der Bile, 04 Nov 1688, father Melchioris In Der Bile, no mother listed, location Rheine

Maria In De Bile, christened 13 Jul 1690, father Melchioris In De Bile, no mother listed, location Rheine

Henricus Melchior In De Biele, 20 Feb 1706, father Melchioris In De Biele, mother Annae Christinae Probsting, location Rheine

Clara In De Bile, christened 18 Oct 1713, father Melchioris In De Biele, mother Christinae Probsting, location Rheine

There are also four marriages in Rheine of interest, though I am not sure how they connect to those listed above:

 20 Apr 1681 marriage of Melchior Cornelius In De Biele to Margaretha Joanna Meyer in Rheine

29 Nov 1681 marriage of Matthias In De Biele to Catharina Cordes in Rheine

01 Oct 1702 marriage of Melchior In De Bile to Maria Gertrudt Schiger in Rheine

11 Nov 1708 Margaretha Catharina In De Biele to Johan Herman Kettendors in Rheine

There are also two older records that may or may not be connected to the others.

6 Jan 1629 christening of Mari In Der Bile, father Euert In Der Bile in Rheine

25 Dec 1636 christening of Everhardus In Der Bile, father Mattia In Der Bile in Rheine   

The Arrival of Caspar Biele to America

For many years it has been unknown how and when Caspar Biele came to America.  Earlier research discovered that Caspar Biele was born in Hovestadt Germany in 1823, later moved to Barmen German where he married his wife Wilhelmine in 1852.
 

Undated Photo of Caspar Biele 

Records from Ellis Island show that Wilhelmine and the four children born in Barmen arrived in New York City from Bremen on the S.S. America on Dec 19, 1865, but no records list when Caspar arrived.  The first record of him in the US is in the Trow's 1868 directory where he is listed as a cabinet maker and living at 71 Ridge in lower Manhattan in New York City.  A previously discovered index card of Caspar's naturalization record is blank concerning his arrival port and date of arrival.

A new discovery provides some further clues.  A copy of the actual court record of his naturalization states that in "September or October 1864 he made a public declaration in the County Court at Philadelphia PA being a Court Record therein, that is was, bona fide, his intention to become a citizen of the United States and renounce forever all allegiance to the King of Prussia"  It further states that the original record of that declaration has been destroyed or lost.

This seems to imply that Caspar came to the United States from Germany through the port of Philadelphia in 1864.  Or it could be that he entered through a different port and just made his declaration there.  Or perhaps he never made a declaration there and that was just a convenient statement made when he applied for citizenship in 1868.

More digging is needed to definitively determine when and where Caspar Biele came to the United States. 

  

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, Eugene 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 found 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.

Edith Biele and "Red" Cowan

Edith Biele (1897-1981) was the second daughter of Ewald Biele (1864-1912), the third son of Caspar Biele (1823-1875).  She was born in the Bronx on January 24, 1896.  Her father died in 1912 and she lived with her mother Anna and older sister Irene in the Bronx through 1925.

Edith's first marriage was to Eugene A. Gamba, a first generation Italian, on April 29, 1925.  The marriage did not last long since by the 1930 census, Edith was listed as divorced and living in the Daytona Beach, Florida area working as a manager of a hotel.

Edith's second marriage was to Edwin H. Marshal on June 1, 1933 in Florida.  That marriage was also short lived.

Marriage License of Edith Biele and Edwin Marshall June 1, 1933 Daytona Beach

Edith's third marriage was to Winder M. Cowan on June 8, 1938 in Florida.  This marriage had more staying power as they looked to have stayed married until Winder's death in 1980. Edith died a year later in 1981.

Marriage License of Edith Biele and Winder Cowan on June 8, 1938 Daytona Beach Florida

Winder Cowan was known as "Red" and seems to have led a colorful life.  Upon his death in 1980, he was hailed as a "Famed Rum Runner" and a "Prohibition Hero".

During the 1920s Cowan ran an establishment on Daytona Beach called "Red's Place"

Reds Place circa 1925 Daytona Beach, Florida

The "Florida Memory" website describes it as follows:

• Winder "Red" Cowan built this shack on the beach several miles south of the Main Street pier. It operated as a refueling station for aircraft using the beach, as well as a "refueling" station of sorts for those pilots with a taste for whiskey (this during Prohibition). Cowan owned several planes himself, including a Standard (with Hisso engine) used to transport cases of whiskey. A big storm in 1932 floated Red's Place away "like a houseboat."

Additionally, Cowan reportedly interacted with Howard Hughes.  A recent Ebay auction had Hughes memorabilia with the following description:

 "ORIGINAL EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF HOWARD HUGHES AND ONE OF HIS AIRPLANES IN DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA DATED 1928 ON A REFUELING STOP ON HIS WAY TO HAVANA CUBA THESE PHOTOS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM SCRAPBOOK, WITH A NEWS PAPER CLIPPING DATED APRIL 6, 1976, A FEW DAYS AFTER HOWARD HUGHES DEATH, TALKING ABOUT " RED COWAN " AND A SCRAPBOOK OF PHOTOS, RED COWAN WAS A LOCAL RUMRUNNER AND AVIATOR IN DAYTONA, PLEASE READ NEWS PAPER CLIPPING FOR FULL STORY, PHOTO IN NEWS PAPER CLIPPING TAKEN ONE PHOTO BEFORE OR ONE PHOTO AFTER ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PHOTO IN THIS GROUP"