Rudolf (Hartwig) Berger Sr (1863 - 1931)

Born 14 Jun 1863 in Leipzig, Amt Leipzig, Saxony

Descendants

Died 5 Jul 1931 at age 68 in Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dan Berger [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Berger Name Study.

Rudolf Hartwig was born on June 14, 1863 in Leipzig, Amt Leipzig, Saxony.

Rudolph (25) married Alma Berger (24) (born on April 7, 1864 in Leipzig) in 1889.^{[citation needed]}

A family legend is that Rudolf Hartwig became Rudolph Berger after coming to the United States. He allegedly took on his wife's maiden name to "avoid the Kaiser's conscription". Census records, passenger lists, and obituaries seem to attest to this fact at least in part.

On 1 Oct 1883, in the 1883-1884 census, Rudolf Hartwig appears as a single, a fleischer (butcher) of "He*ine Ruthemann" in Sachsen, Preußen, Deutschland.^[1]

The fact that Rudolph Berger Sr ran a butcher shop, N.Y. Packing Company, in Gloversville, New York, strongly suggests that Rudolf Hartwig is the same man.

1890s

Rudolf Hartwig was a passenger in Grimsby (Nordamerika via Liverpool), on his way to America on 9 Aug 1892. All the details point towards the Rudolf Hartwig from the 1883-1884 census.^[2]

We also have an Alma Hartwig as a passenger on her way to New York on 4 May 1893, with her two daughters Johanna and Martha in tow. The birthdates and residences are all pointing towards our family.^[3]

1900-1920

By the 1900 census, now appearing as Rudolf Berger (age 37), Leather Dresser, was the married head of household in Johnstown Ward 3, Fulton, New York. All of Rudolph and Alma's known children also appear on this census. They are now officially Berger's.^[4]

In the 1910 census, Randolph (age 48), Farmer, was the married head of household in Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States.^[5]

In the 1915 census, Rudolph (age 52) was the head of household in Johnstown, Fulton.^[6]

1920s

In the 1920 census, Radelph (age 56), Butcher, was the married head of household in Johnstown, Fulton, New York.^[7]

Kurt Berger

We have a "Curt Berger" with a father "Walter Berger" listing "Uncle Rudolph Bergen" with an address of 6 Gilbert St, Johnstown, New York, which was the Berger home. His destination was Johnstown, New York, listed in 1923 on Ellis Island. Further research needs to be done on this branch.^[8]

We have Kurt Berger visiting his ailing mother from Schonefeld, Germany, on 12 Dec 1925.^[9]

1930s

In the 1930 census, Rudolph (age 68), Butcher, was the married head of household at 6 Gilbert St, Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States.^[10]

Another story goes that during his son Rudolph Jr's funeral, Almas's Berger relatives showed up, and caused quite a stir when they brought up the name switch.

Rudolph died on July 5, 1931 in Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States, aged 68. He was buried in Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown, Fulton County, New York.^[11][12]

Obituary

The Gloversville and Johnstown Morning Herald, 6 July 1931, p. 11, col. 6:

Rudolph A. Berger, retired business man, passed away last evening at 7 at his home, 6 Gilbert street. Mr. Berger had been in failing health for several years. He was 68 years of age, having been born in Leipsic, Germany, June 14, 1863, a son of August and Johanna Hartwick Berger. He came to this country when a young man and had resided in this vicinity for a number of years. Mr. Berger was proprietor of the New York Packing Company, in North Main street, Gloversville for ten years. For the past two years he had lived a retired life. He was a member of the Concordia society of that city.

The surviving relatives are his widow, Anna Berger; three daughters, Mrs. Raymond Varney, Mrs. Michael Larkin and Mrs. Joseph Riamann of this city; two sons Fred Berger of Johnstown, Rudolph A. Jr., of Gloversville; one grandson Rudolph, 3rd, besides three sisters and one brother and several nieces and nephews in Germany.

The funeral will be held from the residence Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. Rev. Raymond C. Deitz, D. D., will officiate and interment will be made in Fern Dale cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ 1883-1884 Census: "Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Census Lists, 1770-1934"
   citing Entry: 266; Digital film/folder number: 102397836; Image number: 344
   FamilySearch Record: 6HB8-WYZM (accessed 31 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSCJ-W953-S
   Rudolf Hartwig, single fleischer, in household of He*ine Ruthemann in Sachsen, Preußen, Deutschland. Born in Rochlitz.
2. ↑ Passenger List: "Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934"
   Staatsarchiv Hamburg; Hamburg, Deutschland; Hamburger Passagierlisten; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII B 1 Band 104; Page: 1930; Microfilm No.: S_13167; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII B 1 Band 104
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1068 #385216 (accessed 27 March 2024)
   Name: Rudolf Hartwig; Gender: männlich (Male); Departure Age: 30; Birth Date: abt 1862; Residence Place: Rochlitz, Preußen; Departure Date: 09 Aug 1892 (9 Aug 1892); Departure Place: Hamburg, Deutschland (Germany); Destination: Nordamerika; Arrival Place: Grimsby (Nordamerika via Liverpool); Occupation: Fleischer; Ship Name: Oldham; Shipping Clerk: Louis Scharlach & Co.; Ship Type: Dampfschiff; Ship Flag: England; Accommodation: ohne Angabe;
   Household Members (Name) Age:
   Rudolf Hartwig 30.
3. ↑ Passenger List: "Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934"
   Staatsarchiv Hamburg; Hamburg, Deutschland; Hamburger Passagierlisten; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 084 A; Page: 443; Microfilm No.: K_1749; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 084 A
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1068 #41211 (accessed 27 March 2024)
   Name: Alma Hartwig; Gender: weiblich (Female); Departure Age: 29; Birth Date: abt 1864; Residence Place: Rochnitz, Sachsen; Departure Date: 04 Mai 1893 (4 May 1893); Departure Place: Hamburg, Deutschland (Germany); Arrival Place: New York; Relationship: Frau (Wife); Ship Name: Augusta Victoria; Captain: Barends; Shipping Clerk: Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft; Shipping Line: Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft; Ship Type: Dampfschiff; Ship Flag: Deutschland; Accommodation: Zwischendeck;
   Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
   Alma Hartwig 29 Frau (Wife)
   Johanna Hartwig 4 Tochter (Daughter)
   Martha Hartwig 11/12 Säugling (Infant).
4. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Johnstown Ward 3, Fulton, New York; Roll: 1037; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0020
   Ancestry Record 7602 #18876065 (accessed 27 March 2024)
   Rudolf Berger (37), married, Leather Dresser, head of household in Johnstown Ward 3, Fulton, New York. Born in Germany.
5. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Johnstown, Fulton, New York; Roll: T624_949; Page: 9a; Enumeration District: 0032; FHL microfilm: 1374962
   Ancestry Record 7884 #17494623 (accessed 27 March 2024)
   Randolph A Berger (48), married, Farmer, head of household in Johnstown, Fulton, New York, USA. Born in Germany.
6. ↑ 1915 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1915"
   New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 01; Assembly District: 01; City: Johnstown; County: Fulton; Page: 01; Line Number: 17
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2703 #5700989 (accessed 27 March 2024)
   Rudolph Berger (52) head of household in Johnstown, Fulton. Born in Germany.
7. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Johnstown, Fulton, New York; Roll: T625_1113; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 197
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #31620455 (accessed 27 March 2024)
   Radelph Burger (56), married, Butcher, head of household in Johnstown, Fulton, New York. Born in Germany.
8. ↑ Immigration: "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924"
   citing Page: 212; Affiliate Publication Title: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York , NY, 1897-1957; Digital film/folder number: 007597419; FHL microfilm: 1755067; Image number: 1264; Indexing batch: P50524-0
   FamilySearch Record: QGGZ-FR7T (accessed 31 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99ND-GQBT
   Name: Rudolph Bergen; Role: OTHER_2; Relationship To Head: Uncle; Ship: President Arthur; Source Series Nbr: T715; Misc Name Dep Port: Bremen; System Of Record: SLS.
9. ↑ Gloversville NY Morning Herald 1925 Grayscale - 4146.pdf accessed 31 Mar 2024.
10. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1930; Census Place: Johnstown, Fulton, New York; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0033; FHL microfilm: 2341174
    Ancestry Record 6224 #27563955 (accessed 27 March 2024)
    Rudolph Berger (68), married, Butcher, head of household at 6 Gilbert St, Johnstown, Fulton, New York, USA. Born in Germany.
11. ↑ Death: "New York, U.S., Death Index, 1852-1956"
    New York Department of Health; Albany, NY; NY State Death Index; Certificate Number: 40933
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61535 #3992091 (accessed 27 March 2024)
    Rudolph A Berger death 5 Jul 1931 in Johnstown, New York, USA.
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211457117/rudolph_a-berger: accessed), memorial page for Rudolph A Berger Sr. (14 Jun 1863–5 Jul 1931), Find a Grave Memorial ID 211457117, citing Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown, Fulton County, New York, USA; Maintained by Daniel Berger (contributor 50264410).

• Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995"
  Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #92434786 (accessed 27 March 2024)
  Name: Rudolph Berger; Gender: Male; Spouse: Elma Berger; Publication Title: Gloversville, New York, City Directory, 1932.
• Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995"
  Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #1224982975 (accessed 27 March 2024)
  Name: Rudolph Berger; Gender: Male; Spouse: Elma Berger; Publication Title: Gloversville, New York, City Directory, 1938.

Acknowledgments

• Reddit user Fredelas who helped contribute research on Kurt Berger, found Rudolph's obituary, among other contributions to his FamilySearch profile.