1907 Koehler Gustave death certificate

1910 US Census Koehler Marie Reiss

1900 US Census Koehler Gustif Marie

The Gustave and Marie Reiss Koehler Family

-->

Kathryn Neary Koehler 1893-1977--->

probably with Fred 1918-1984

Frederick Koehler 1898-1984

The earliest evidence of Koehler's in the US is the citizenship petition of Gustif Koehler. He petitioned to become a citizen of the United States on September 3, 1888 in Philadelphia, PA (spelling was Kaylor) and was naturalized in June 11, 189_ the last digit was never filled in. He resided at 3522 Warren Street in Philadelphia and his sponsor was a John J. Steck of 3614 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia. Address matches the one listed on his death certificate, so we can assume that this is he.

There is no listing for Gustif in the 1890 Philadelphia City directory , a primary source for Philadelphia occupants since the 1890 US Census was lost to a fire. I checked under Kahler, Kaylor, Kohler, and Koehler (62 listed) which is odd, because in the 1900 US Census the family is living at 3522 Warren Street.

In the 1900 census, Gustif is the head of the household, a cabinet maker and lists his birthday as May, 1858. He states that he came to the US in 1881 from Germany and that both his parents were born in Germany. Mary (Marie Reiss) lists her birthday as March, 1857 and emigration date as1881. She and Gustif have been married seven years and the Philadelphia City License Bureau lists their marriage registration in 1893 as #58407. Marie also lists both parents as German born. Marie states that she has birthed 4 children, two of whom are living, Herman born April, 1896 and Frederick born September, 1897.

A search of the Philadelphia City Death certificates returns an Emelia H. Koehler, 7 months, died March 26, 1896 of convulsions and an Arthur T. Koehler, 22 months, died March 31, 1896 of pneumonia. Parents Gus Koehler and Mary Koehler, residence Warren Street. Both children were buried in Greenmount Cemetery in Philadelphia. A third child, Gustav Leopold Koehler 5-1/2 months died July 7, 1901 of fever and is also buried at Greenmount.

Gustave Koehler, 49 years old, died on September 2, 1907 of pulmonary tuberculosis. His obituary, which appeared in the Philadelphia Public Ledger and the Philadelphia Inquirer read as follows

Gustave KOEHLER, aged 49 years. Relatives and friends, also Equity Lodge No 591, F and A M; Keystone Chapter, No 175 R A M. Universal Council, No 19, Asso of Equity Pennsylvania R R Relief Association, are invited to attend the funeral on Thursday, at 2 P M, from his late residence, 3522 Warren st Interment at Greenmount Cemetery.

-->

A search of city Directories for the family lists the following:
1906: Gustave Koehler, cabinetmkr, h. 3522 Warren
1907-1913: no listings
1914: Marie Kohler, widow, h. 3522 Warren
1915: Marie Kohler, widow Gustav, h. 3522 Warren
1916: Marie Kohler, widow Gustav, h. 3522 Warren
1917: Marie Kohler, widow Gustav, h. 3522 Warren
1918: Marie Kohler, widow Gustav, h. 3522 Warren
1921: Fredk Kohler, h. 250 S Ithan
1922: Fredk Kohler, machst, h. 250 S Ithan

In the 1910 US Census, Marie, a widow is living with Herman and Frederick on Warren Street and lists her occupation as a chambermaid for a private family. Of interest is the fact that a Norah Begley is also living with the family, she is 38 and came to the US from Ireland. She lists her relationship to the head of the family (Marie) as servant.

By 1920, Frederick has married Kathryn A. Neary and they are living at 250 South Ithan Street in Philadelphia with son Frederick W., 12 months, mother Marie and brother Herman. Frederick is a machinist for the railroad and Herman a house carpenter.

Kathryn lists her age as 23 (she was 27) and that she came to the US in 1900 (she came in 1907) and that she was naturalized in 1917 (see the June 5, 2008 posting on the Neary family). Women were not generally naturalized on their own, only through their marriage so this is suspect also. The Philadelphia Archivist searched for a marriage record, but could not find one for them. Where and when were they married?

Always questions to be answered!