Catharina Karl

Catharina Karl

Catharina Karl Surber, 1865-1951

• Father: Georg Anton Karl b. 7 April 1827
• Mother: Sophia Dexheimer b. 20 October 1825, d. 22 January 1909

• Catharina Karl was born on 20 February 1865 in Hessen.
• She was baptized/christened on 26 February 1865 in Freimersheim, Rheinhessen, in der katholischen Kirche.
• She was known as Kate.
• According to the various censuses, Kate immigrated in 1883 or 1884. There appear to be two possibilities: Catharina Karl, age 18, servant, arrived in the Port of New York on 21 September 1883 aboard the SS Main from Bremen, apparently traveling alone, in steerage class. Although it is possible, but quite unlikely, that she returned to Germany and arrived again in the US in 1884, there was a Catharina Karl, age 19, who arrived in the Port of New York on 2 August 1884 aboard the SS Fulda from Bremen, traveling in steerage compartment B with 18?-year-old Peter Karl.
• She married Johann Georg Surber, son of Johann Georg Surber and Maria Barbara Burkhardt, on 11 July 1889 in Manhattan, New York, at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, West 42nd Street, with Pastor Georg F. W. Busse officiating. The marriage was witnessed by Jacob Karl and Linus Molz.
• Heirloom linen towels bearing the monogram "K" belonged to Catharina "Katie" Karl. The linen was found in the home of Rose M. (Jaeger) Surber, wife of George Louis Surber, after her death.
• Johann Georg Surber and Catharina Karl appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Manhattan, New York, at 2139 Lexington Avenue. Other members of the household included George Louis Surber, Charles Jacob Surber, Frederick Wilhelm Surber and Rosa Sophia Surber. Also in the household were one boarder and five domestic servants.
• The following appeared on 17 September 1904 in The New York Times: New Tenements for the Bronx . . . Maurice Rosenstein has sold for J. George Surber the four-story flat 812 East One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Street.
• Johann Georg Surber and Catharina Karl appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Manhattan, New York, at 288 Seventh Avenue. Other members of the household included George Louis Surber, Charles Jacob Surber, Frederick Wilhelm Surber, Rosa Sophia Surber, Madeline K. Surber and Magdalena Karl. The two boarders in the household apparently were bakery employees, and servant Lena Karl was a daughter of Kate's brother Peter.
• She was a bakery saleswoman, likely in the family bakery.
• Johann Georg Surber and Catharina Karl appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1915 in Bronx, New York, at 995 Summit Avenue. Other members of the household included George Louis Surber, Charles Jacob Surber, Frederick Wilhelm Surber, Rosa Sophia Surber and Madeline K. Surber.
• Johann Georg Surber and Catharina Karl appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Bronx, New York, at 995 Summit Avenue. Other members of the household included George Louis Surber, Charles Jacob Surber, Frederick Wilhelm Surber, Rosa Sophia Surber and Madeline K. Surber.
• Johann Georg Surber and Catharina Karl appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Bronx, New York, at 995 Summit Avenue. Other members of the household included Rosa Sophia Surber and Madeline K. Surber.
• Kate and George Surber were photographed late in his life, during the 1930s.
• Catharina Karl became a widow at the 12 July 1936 death of her husband Johann Georg Surber.
• Catharina Karl appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Bronx, New York, at Summit Avenue. Other members of the household included Charles Jacob Surber, Rosa Sophia Surber and Madeline K. Surber. Also in the household was granddaughter Barbara Surber (age 8).
• Charles Jacob Surber registered for the draft on 27 April 1942 while living with his mother Katie at 995 Summit Avenue in the Bronx, and employed there by Consolidated Shipbuilding Corporation at 177th Street & Harlem River.
• Catharina Karl died in April 1951 at age 86 in Bronx, New York, at 995 Summit Avenue.
• She was interred on 24 April 1951 at All Faiths Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens County, New York.
• Surber family photographs, documents and details generously have been shared by descendants Edward R. Surber and Barbara Surber Hermann.

• Last Edited: 10 Apr 2016

• Charts: Descendants of DEXHEIMER Philipp Peter & Maria Agnesa Wagner / Anna Christina Baltz