John Meier Sternhagen (1888 - 1954)

Born 21 Mar 1888 in Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, United States

Husband of Gertrude Frances (Hussey) Wyckoff — married 23 Apr 1927 (to 25 Sep 1954) in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Died 25 Sep 1954 at age 66 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Biography

John Sternhagen is Notable.

1LT John Sternhagen served in the United States Army Air Service in World War I
Service started: 25 Oct 1918
Unit(s):
Service ended: 30 Jan 1919

John Sternhagen is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States United States Naval Reserve Force 25 Oct 1918-30 Jan 1919
Honorably Served our Country during World War I, United States Army Air Service

Judge of the Tax Court of the United States (16 Jul 1924-1 Jun 1946), appointed by President Coolidge and member of US Board of Tax Appeals. Father of stage and screen actress Frances Hussey Sternhagen (1930-2023).

John Meier Sternhagen, son of Herman and Christina Meir Sternhagen, Sr., was born on 21 Mar 1888 in Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, United States, the youngest of 5 children.

Judge John Sternhagen passed away on 25 Sep 1954 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States, aged 66.

Early Life

John was a native of New York and spent his childhood in Mount Vernon, practiced tax law in Chicago, Illinois and when appointed by President Coolidge to the US Board of Tax Appeals in 1924, moved to Washington, DC where he would remain until his death.^[1][2]

In 1912, John graduated from New York University with a Law Degree and admitted to the Bar in 1913. John was in an obituary on 26 Sep 1954 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. ^[3]

Military Life

By 1918, at age 30, john was drafted into World War I on 25 Oct 1918 as a 2nd Lieutenant, Air Service Division, Washington, DC until he was honorably discharged on 30 Jan 1919^[4]

New York in The Great War

Later Life

After returning home from the Military, John moved to Chicago beginning his work as a Republican tax lawyer in 1923. In 1924, under President Coolidge, John was 1 of 12 members appointed to the US Board of Tax Appeals. John took his Oath of Office on 16 Jul 1924.^[5]

On 23 Apr 1927, John met and married the former Gertrude Hussey, socialite and former War Nurse in Manhattan, New York. After their marriage, John and Gertrude moved to Washington, DC. ^[6]

• Their only child, and daughter was Frances Hussey Sternhagen (1930–2023) who was a Tony Award Winning and Screen Actress.

In 1942, his position with the Board, which he served on from 1924 until 1942, was converted into the Tax Court of the United States, thus making John a Federal Judge. Judge Sternhagen's health started declining resulting in his official retirement from the bench on 1 Jun 1946.

Judge Sternhagen was involved in the high profile $10 million Tax Assessment against Michigan Senator Couzens.

Judge Sternhagen passed away on 25 Sep 1954 in Washington, DC at his home, at the age of 66.

Those left to mourn the loss of John were his widow, Gertrude, daughter Frances, and a sister.^[3][7]

Sources

1. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census", database with images
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Mount Vernon Ward 4, Westchester, New York; Roll: 1175; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0086
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #67989690 (accessed 30 November 2023)
   John M Sterhagen (12), single son, At School, in household of Hermann Sterhagen (54) in Mount Vernon Ward 4, Westchester, New York. Born in New York, USA.
2. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census", database with images
   Year: 1910; Census Place: MT Vernon Ward 2, Westchester, New York; Roll: T624_1089; Page: 10a; Enumeration District: 0059; FHL microfilm: 1375102
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #138422924 (accessed 30 November 2023)
   John M Sterngagen (22), single son, Private Sectary, in household of Herman Sterngagen (63) in MT Vernon Ward 2, Westchester, New York, USA. Born in New York.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Obituary: "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current", database
   Evening Star; Publication Date: 26 Sep 1954; Publication Place: Washington, District of Columbia, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/869702819/?article=b1fb89be-7962-4419-b671-49e208bb6814&focus=0.5073628,0.023134014,0.6246202,0.5615083&xid=3355 Ancestry Record 61843 #856257935 (accessed 30 November 2023); Name: John M. Sternhagen; Gender: Male; Death Age: 66; Birth Date: 21 Mar 1888; Birth Place: Mount Vernon, N. Y.; Residence Place: Washington; Death Date: Abt 1954; Death Place: 3328 O Street N.w.; Obituary Date: 26 Sep 1954; Obituary Place: Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Newspaper Title: Evening Star; Parents: Herman Sternhagfin; Christina Meier Sternhagfin; Spouse: Gertrude Hussey; Child: Frances Stern.
4. ↑ Military: "New York, U.S., Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919", database with images
   Original data: New York State Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919. Adjutant General's Office. Series B0808. New York State Archives, Albany, New York; Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3030 #210759 (accessed 30 November 2023); Name: John Meier Sternhagen; Birth Place: MT Vernon, New York; Birth Date: 21 Mar 1888; Service Start Date: 25 Oct 1918; Service Start Age: 30.
5. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census", database with images
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0170; FHL microfilm: 2340031
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #121255085 (accessed 30 November 2023)
   John M Sternhager (41), married, Lawyer, head of household in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Born in New York.
6. ↑ Marriage: "New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018", database with images
   New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan; Volume Number: 5
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61406 #7728449 (accessed 1 December 2023)
   John M Sternhagen marriage to Gertrude F Hussey on 23 Apr 1927 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
7. ↑ Military: "U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940", database
   Original data: United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2019
   Ancestry Record 61861 #5563136 (accessed 30 November 2023)
   Name: John Meier Sternhagen; Record Type: Military Service; Birth Date: 21 Mar 1888; Military Date: 30 Jan 1919; Residence Place: Wash, DC; Death Date: 25 Sep 1954.

See Also:

• Wikidata: Item Q27460602
• Judge John M. Sternhagen
• Tax Court Judge Sternhagen
• (memorial w/out headstone). Funeral services were held on Mon, 27 Sep 1954 at St. John's Episcopal church with a private burial to follow. John is interred in Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, United States with a death date of 25 Sep 1954. Memorial: "Find a Grave", database with images; Find A Grave: Memorial #261907498 (accessed 30 November 2023); Memorial page for Judge John Meier Sternhagen (21 Mar 1888-25 Sep 1954), citing Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA; Maintained by ♛W.K.K. CROWN ESTATE♛ (contributor 49326523)