Jacob Ruopp Kelberer

Jacob Ruopp Kelberer

• Father: Jacob Kelberer b. 3 November 1828, d. 19 September 1864
• Mother: Rosina Zeifang b. 14 May 1830, d. 23 February 1918

• Jacob Ruopp Kelberer was born on 7 May 1863 in Niagara County, New York.
• His name was recorded as Jacob Ruopp during his early years, for his step-father John Ruopp, and later adopted that surname as his middle name.
• John Ruopp and Rosina Zeifang, appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Suspension Bridge, Niagara County, New York. Other members of the household included Jacob Ruopp Kelberer, Anna Kelberer, Johann Friedrich Kilberer, Georg Ruopp and Lucy Ruopp.
• John Ruopp and Rosina Zeifang appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Suspension Bridge, New York. Other members of the household included Jacob Ruopp Kelberer, Lucy Ruopp and Rosina Ruopp.
• He was working in a cabinet shop, according to the 1880 census.
• He was a sponsor at the baptism/christening of Jeanette Olga Schleisinger on 29 October 1881 at Zion Lutheran Church in Niagara, Niagara County, New York.
• He was a sponsor at the baptism/christening of Flora Ruth Schleisinger on 26 October 1884.
• He married Clara Augusta Hannel, daughter of Alexander J. Hannel and Rosa (?), on 1 February 1888 in Suspension Bridge, Niagara County, New York, at Zion Lutheran Church.
• The following appeared on 8 February 1888 in The Buffalo Evening News: (Suspension Bridge, Feb. 3) Wednesday afternoon at 5 Miss Clara Hannel and John Ruopp were married at the German Lutheran Church, Rev. Oscar A. Gallenkamp officiating.
• Jacob Ruopp Kelberer and Clara Augusta Hannel appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 828 West Pierce Avenue. Other members of the household included William David Kelberer, Alexander Frederick Kelberer and Clarence George Kelberer.
• He was a carpenter, according to the 1900 census.
• The following appeared on 1 June 1903 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: John Ruopp of No. 733 West Pierce Avenue, died yesterday morning at 5 oclock of old age. Deceased was one of the best known and most respected German residents of the city. He was 76 years of age and for over forty years has been a resident of this city, coming from Germany in the days of the old village of Suspension Bridge.
       The surviving relatives are a wife, two daughters, Miss Lucy Ruopp and Mrs. Henry L. Colpoys and two step children, Mrs. A. Schleisinger and Mr. Jacob R. Kelberer.
       The funeral will be observed tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the German Zion's Lutheran Church. The Rev. F. R. Hoffmann will officiate and the interment will be made in Oakwood cemetery.
• Jacob Ruopp Kelberer and Clara Augusta Hannel appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 828 Pierce Avenue. Other members of the household included William David Kelberer, Alexander Frederick Kelberer, Clarence George Kelberer and Howard Charles Kelberer.
• He was a house carpenter, according to the 1910 census.
• Jacob Ruopp Kelberer and Clara Augusta Hannel appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 828 Pierce Avenue. Other members of the household included Clarence George Kelberer and Howard Charles Kelberer.
• He was a house carpenter, according to the 1920 census.
• The following appeared on 3 November 1928 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Fred Abicht, 63 years old, 820 Pierce avenue, died in Memorial hospital this morning, following an illness of several weeks. Mr. Abicht contracted an infected leg after an illness from sugar diabetes, which later developed into gangrene. He was removed to the hospital a week ago and the leg was amputated. He failed to rally after the operation.
       Mr. Abicht was a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls. He was a bricklayer by trade and was a member of the Niagara Falls Exempt Firemen's Association. He had a large number of friends in the city.
       Mr. Abicht is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Merringer, of this city, and Miss Emma Abicht of Buffalo.
       The funeral will be held from he home of Jacob R. Kelberer, 828 Pierce avenue, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery.
• Jacob Ruopp Kelberer and Clara Augusta Hannel appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 828 Pierce Avenue. Other members of the household included Clarence George Kelberer.
• The following appeared on 30 January 1942 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Two native residents of Niagara Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob R. Kilberer, will observe informally Sunday the fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding by being at home to their friends at their residence, 828 Pierce avenue, after 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Early Sunday afternoon they will be entertained at dinner by their son, Alexander F. Kilberer, and Mrs. Kelberer.
       Another honored guest at the observance Sunday will be Miss Theresa Galser, who celebrated her seventy-fifth birthday on Jan. 17 and who is the only one of the four wedding attendants at the Kelberers' marriage who is living.
       Mr. Kelberer, now 79 years old, was born in the same block in which he now resides. He is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kilberer and his father was killed during the Civil war without ever having seen the new-born son. He was, tbefore his retirement some years ago, in the general contracting business. Still in active health, he is an ardent member of the Exempt Firemen's association and still continues his membership in the Carpenters' union.
       Mrs. Kelberer, now 73 years old, is the former Miss Clara Augusta Hannel, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hannel, who was a clerk of the old Mansion House at Suspension Bridge. She, too, was born not far from her present residence.
       The couple were united in marriage in the early evening of Feb. 1, 1888, at the old German United Zion church, by the Rev. Mr. Hoffman. The church stood on the present site of the Sacred Heart parochial school in South avenue.
       Mr. Kelberer has one sister living. She is Mrs. Rose Colpoys, of this city. Mrs. Kelberer has seven brothers and sisters living. They are Mrs. Emma Sparmon; Charles Hannel and Albert Hannel, all of Florida; Mrs. Rose Leighton, Mrs. Josephine Slack and George Hannel, all of this city.
       The Kelberers have three living sons. They are Alexander F. Kelberer, supervisor of the Eighth ward; Clarence and Howard Kelberer, both members of the city fire department. William, the eldest son, was killed overseas in the first World War. There are seven grandchildren.
• The following appeared on 30 January 1948 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Sixty years ago, on February 1, at 6:30 o'clock in the evening, a wedding party entered the little German United Zion church which stood on the present site of the Sacred Heart parochial school, in South avenue. The bride and the groom were two popular young people of the old village of Suspension Bridge, Clara Augusta Hannel and Jacob Roupp Kelberer. The wedding was quite a social event and it is told that the little edifice was filled to capacity and an overflow of smiling, well wishing friends crowded the sidewalk leading to the church.
       It was the Rev. Mr. Hoffman, pastor of the old church, who performed the ceremony and the attendants were Theresa Gaiser, Lucy Roupp, Herman Hertel and Daniel Elsheimer. In those days they really celebrated a wedding, particularly that of couples so well known and so popular, for it is told that immediately after the ceremony, the wedding party and a host of friends adjourned to the old Hannel home and there was feasting and dancing and music well into the next day.
       Tomorrow Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kelberer will celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary. They will receive their friends from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Kelberer home, 823 Pierce avenue, right in the neighbornood where the bridegroom of 60 years ago has lived for 85 years. There will be flowers and gifts, smiles and handshakes as friends file through the old Kelberer homestead throughout the afternoon.
       In the evening there will be a reception at the Exempt Firemen's home in Whirlpool street. Among the guests will be the members of the old Exempts' organization, the members of "Jake" Kelberer's fishing club, his old cronies with whom he has spent many a happy hour, as well as relatives, neighbors and close friendds. There will be a spread in the good old German fashion, music and dancing. Children and grandchildren have been planning and working for days in perfecting the details of the arrangements for his joyful occasion in honor of the couple.
       Mrs. Jacob R. Kelberer was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alec Hannel. For years Alec Hannel was the proprietor of the old Mansion hotel, the leading hostelry of its time in the village of Suspension Bridge. Mrs. Kelberer is a sister of Mrs. David Leighton, Mrs. Herbert Slack, Charles and George Hannel, this city; Mrs. John Sparnon, Winter Haven, Fla., and Albert Hannel, Melbourne, Fla.
       Mr. Kelberer is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kelberer, and a brother of Mrs. Rose Colpoys, this city. He never saw his father, who was killed by a sniper while he was returning from the Civil war. Jacob Kelberer was born a few months after his dad left for war. Some years later his mother married the late John Roupp, who was known locally as a skilled cabinet maker, and for years he held the office of overseer of the poor.
       The fate and tragedy of war again entered the Kelberer family when William, the oldest of the four sons of the honored couple, was killed in World War I, the other sons are Alex F. Kelberer, member of the Niagara County Board of Supervisors and long associated with the advertising and public relations departments of the Carborundum company, and Clarence and Howard Kelberer, both members of the city fire department. Seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren will also be present to greet the couple, as well as Mrs. Kelberer's 90-year-old Godmother, Mrs. Augusta Seiler.
• The following appeared on 6 May 1953 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Jacob R. Kelberer, who will observe his ninetieth birthday tomorrow, will be at home to neighbors and friends in his home at 828 Pierce avenue.
       Mr. Kelberer, an "old time" resident of Pierce avenue, has been in poor health for some time but his family reported today is well enough to look forward to greeting acquaintances tomorrow.
• Jacob Ruopp Kelberer died on 23 May 1953 at age 90 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
• Clara Augusta Hannel became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
• The following appeared on 25 May 1953 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: [Died] In this city, Saturday, May 23, 1953, Jacob R. Kelberer. Beloved husband of Clara A. Kelberer, city; father of Alex A. Kelberer, Clarence G. Kelberer and Howard C. Kelberer, city. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Funeral from the residence, 828 Pierce4 avenue, Tuesday, May 26, 1953, at 2:00 p.m., Rev. Arthur H. Schmoyer officiating. Interment in Oakwood cemetery.
• The following appeared on 17 November 1958 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Services for Mrs. Clara A. Kelberer, 89, of 828 Pierce Ave., will be held at 2 p. m. Tuesday at the Cobler's Funeral Home. The Rev. Arthur H. Schmoyer, D.D., will officiate. Interment wil be in Oakwood Cemetery.
       Mrs. Kelberer died Saturday (Nov. 15, 1958) in Memorial Hospital, where she had been confined for the last two weeks after breaking her hip.
       She was the daughter of the later Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hannel. Her husband, Jacob R. Kelberer, died May 23, 1953. He was a contract and city employe.
       Mrs. Kilberer was a member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and a member of the Gold Star Mothers.
       Surviving are three sons, Alex F. Kelberer, Niagara County deputy commissioner of jurors, and Clarence and Howard Kelberer, both city firemen; two brothers, Charles and George Hannel; a sister, Mrs. Emma Sparnon, Ransomville; seven grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

• Last Edited: 30 Nov 2014