Moritz (Königsbacher) Kingsbacher (1847 - 1930)

Born 18 Dec 1847 in Talheim, Oberamt Heilbronn, Königreich Württemberg, Deutscher Bund

Ancestors

Husband of Sophie M (Friedenheit) Kingsbacher — married 27 May 1883 in Manhattan, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Sep 1930 at age 82 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: David Zuckerman [send private message] and AJ Jacobs [send private message]

Description

From Ann Sunstein:

Morris was born in Manheim, Germany in an apartment in an old castle. He emigrated partly due to economic opportunity, with the wave of Jewish immigration in the 1870's, when he was 18 years old. Started with a pack on his back, allegedly only $2 on him, as a peddler in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Morris later had a wholesale jewelry store with his brother Aaron in Pittsburgh, where he settled. Later they ran their store in a small building downtown known as the Kingsbacher Brothers Building.^[1]

Morris was president of the Concordia Club, the social club for leading Pittsburgh (German, then) Jewry. He sent two daughters to Bryn Mawr, one to Pennsylvania College for Women, and a son to textile college. He loved his family and called on them often.^[1]

From "100 Famous American Jews", published ca. 1918, found by David Meyer in the Chicago Public Library:

At 637 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, is located the wholesale jewelry establishment of Mr. Morris Kingsbacher.Upon entering his place of business, which bears every evidence of able management and modern ideas, one might expect to find it the product of at least more than one generation of the best type of American business man. However, this is not the case, as the owner and proprietor, Mr. Kingsbacher, did not see our shores until he was nineteen years of age.

Morris Kingsbacher was born in Thalheim, Wurtemburg, in 1847, and came to America in 1866, the first years representing a bitter struggle for a foothold, but he persevered and was finally able to start a small business of his own, which has developed into the present prosperous establishment known as Kingsbacher Brothers.

Not only is Mr. Kingsbacher a successful business man, but he also finds time for a connection with many philanthropic organizations, prominent among which is the Jewish Federation. He is also most generous in his gifts to hospitals and never turns a deaf ear to a worthy appeal for assistance.

Mr. Kingsbacher was married in New York in 1882 to Miss Sophie Friedenheit, and they have three daughters and one son, all of whom are married. The son is at the present time in the employ of the government.

Their family is a fine representation of ideal American citizenship, which might well be emulated by many native-born sons and daughters of our republic.

Family register

Moritz Königsbacher was born on 18 December 1847 in Talheim near Heilbronn (in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany), as child of Abraham Königsbacher, "assessor" and merchant ("Beisizer und Handelsmann"), and his wife Esther Löwenthal. He emigrated to North America in 1866.^{[2] [3]}

Passport Application

Height: 5'6"

Forehead: High

Eyes: Brown

Nose: Straight & full

Mouth: Proportionate

Chin: Full

Hair: Dark brown

Complexion: Fair

Face: Long ^[4]

BURIAL: West View Cemetery Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA

Research Notes

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168821729/morris-kingsbacher

• Polk's Pittsburgh Directory, 1912, lists Morris Kingsbacher living at 6602 Northumberland Ave. Business is Kingsbacher Bros. Full name of this company is Kingsbacher Bros. Diamonds and Jewelry, address is 637 Liberty Ave. Cite page 855, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/2840343 (Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.) - Ellen Smith, 7 January 2021
• Same home address in 1909, 1913, 1915, and 1916 city directories (accessed in same Ancestry database). - Ellen Smith, 7 January 2021
• 6602 Northumberland Ave was not included in the 1910 U.S. Census. Image https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RJB-ZMS?i=16&wc=QZZ7-L4B%3A133638001%2C133884201%2C137936701%2C1589123972&cc=1727033
• Grave List from Westview Cemetery, Row 53, Numbers 10-18 ^[5]

Kingsbacher, Morris, 1847-1930

Kingsbacher, Sophie Friedenheit, 1863-1946

Kingsbacher, Aaron, May 5, 1853 - Nov. 5, 1941

Kingsbacher, Lina L., July 4, 1865 - Dec. 22, 1951

Kingsbacher, Arthur L, Jan. 31, 1887 - Dec. 29, 1952

Frank, Freda, July 14, 1876 - May 21, 1963

Frank, Ernestine K., Mar. 27, 1881 - Mar. 25, 1954

Kingsbacher, Carl L., 1887-1966

Kingsbacher, Claire M, 1891-1961

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Sunstein, Ann. "A Capsule Description of Parents, Grandparents, & Great-Grandparents of Ann & Ted Kheel," written July 1984, at the request of Marti Kheel.
2. ↑ Familien-Register der jüdischen Gemeinde Talheim: Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Abt. Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 386 Bü 568 Bild 23 [1]
3. ↑ Familien-Register der jüdischen Gemeinde Horkheim: Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Abt. Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart J 386 Bü 288 Bild 45 [2]
4. ↑ Passport Application
5. ↑ Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, Image on FindMyPast

• US Federal Census; Year: 1880; Census Place: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1092; Family History Film: 1255092; Page: 272C; Enumeration District: 111; Image: 0206.

• US Federal Census; 1900; Census Place: Allegheny Ward 6, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1356; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0056; FHL microfilm: 1241356.

• US Federal Census; Year: 1920; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 14, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1522; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 546; Image: 844.

• US Federal Census; Year: 1930; Census Place: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1977; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 0222; Image: 600.0; FHL microfilm: 2341711.

• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Passport Applications, 1795-1905; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 566612 / MLR Number A1 508; NARA Series: M1372; Roll #: 235.

• Obituary: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Monday, September 22, 1930, pg 2

• Info from profile on Geni.com

• Research of David Meyer, distributed in Annie Jacobs' own research dated November 6, 1998.

See also: Find A Grave: Memorial #168821729