Kornhauser Family

I recently wrote out for my mother what I've been able to learn about the Kornhausers in the U.S. I am actively searching this line, so please comment or contact me if you know more!

First, the name Kornhauser doesn't seem to appear in the U.S. until about the 1860s. It's a tricky name to find, because most indexers and/or original records creators couldn't spell it properly and you have to try any number of variations.

Many Kornhauser families lived in Cleveland early on. Later families seem to have clustered in the NYC area. All appear to be Jewish except for our branch down from Sidney. There is a Kornhaus family in Illinois, who have been in the U.S. for a long time and are almost certainly unrelated.

The Kornhausers in the early years often report their origins as Hungary or Germany or Austria. Hungary had massively shifting borders, so it is uncertain where people are referring when they say "Hungary".

With regards to our Kornhauser family, I can say this:

Albert Kornhauser was born about Apr 1851 in Hungary to parents Josef and Zeni (Gluck) Kornhauser.

His brother Dewitt Henry Kornhauser was born on 10 Mar 1857. His birth place variously mentioned as in Sebish or Karacsonymeza, Hungary. I suspect that Dewitt is an Americanization of "David". Dewitt is listed as David in the Hamburg passenger lists. "Sebish" may actually be "Szepes" a former Hungarian county that is now in the Spiš region in Slovakia. Karacsonymezo was in Saros county in 1913, district of Giralti, and is now in Slovakia. The Slovak spelling would be Kracunovce. The mention of Sebish is from his death certificate, which he didn't complete obviously, so I would guess that the Karacsonymezo is more accurate (it's from his passport applications). That said, I suspect that he probably spent some of his life living in Sebish, which is where his children had the reference. Szepes and Saros are adjacent. Here are some 1910 maps of the two counties.

Albert & Dewitt had a sister Resi born probably in Hungary. Her birth date is listed at death as 1 May 1861, but I am more inclined to believe the census reports which consistently indicate a birth date of June 1852 (probably early June based on the age changes).

There was probably one other child in the family, but I have no additional information on this yet. It's based on the fact that Zeni reported in 1900 that she was the mother of 4 living children.

As far as Josef and Zeni go, they were definitely Jewish, and at least Zeni was likely born in Hungary, though possibly in Germany as reported in the 1900 census. Josef may have been born in either Hungary or Germany. He is reported by Dewitt as having spoken German and being born there. Zeni came to the US in about 1880 and in 1910 was living with Resi in Cleveland. She is listed as Jennie, aged 68, widowed, and b. May 1832 in this census. Zeni probably died between 1900 and 1910. According to the census, she did not read, write, or speak English.

In 1871, Albert was naturalized in Cuyahoga Co, OH (in Cleveland). He probably arrived in the US that same year. Dewitt arrived 27 November 1872 on the S.S. Westphalia from Hamburg, but say he wasn't naturalized until October 3, 1883 in the District Court of Cleveland, OH. Resi may have come over with one of her brothers or with her mother about 1880 (she reports 1880 as does her mother in 1900, but in 1920, Resi reports an immigration date of 1875 and a naturalization date of 1884). I'm uncertain right now whether Josef or the remaining sibling immigrated as well.

Albert married Henrietta Goldberg in Rochester, NY on 9 Dec 1874. She was the Pennsylvania-born daughter of Sampson and Jeanette (David) Goldberg. Albert and Henrietta had at least 5 children, with possibly one additional child dying very young:
- Esther, b. NY in Apr 1876
- Samuel Jacob, b. 4 Dec 1879 in Parma, OH (just outside of Cleveland)
- Caroline, b. 28 Jan 1882 in Parma, OH
- David Emanuel, b. 15 Feb 1884 in Parma, OH
- Sidney Isaac, b. 3 Nov 1887 in Cleveland, OH
The family lived in Cleveland for most of the children's youth, but moved to Pittsburgh between 1900 and 1910. Albert died on 8 May 1920 in Pittsburgh and Henrietta d. 18 Dec 1921.

Dewitt Henry married Ida Lowenstein on 18 Jun 1895 in Manhattan, NY. Ida was born in NYC on Feb 22, 1873. I am still trying to determine who their children might have been (if any). They lived in NY and OH all their married lives, apparently concurrently. Dewitt had several passports that show him taking a pleasure trip to Calcutta in 1915, China, Japan, Korea, Phillipines, & Hawaii in 1917, and Cuba in 1920. They also describe him (and have photos) as 5'5", high forehead, grey eyes, straight or Roman nose, medium mouth with mustache, round chin, brown hair (but bald), fair or ruddy complexion, oval face, with a mole on his forehead. Dewitt d. on 26 Jan 1921 in Cleveland, OH of pneumonia. Ida d. 14 Jan 1956. At Dewitt's death in 1921 he had lived in the US in Ohio for 40 years. He was an insurance salesman for State Mental Ins. Co. He was buried at Mayfield Cemetery, Cleveland Hgts, OH.

Resi married Moritz Greenbaum on 18 Nov 1884 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. They had 5 children:
- Gertrude b. Dec 1885 in Ohio
- Joseph E. b. Dec 1885 OH
- Hermine b. Aug 1890 OH
- Jerome I. b. Feb 1893 OH
- Selma b. abt 1901 OH
He died between 1900 and 1910, probably in Ohio. She d. 30 Aug 1942 in Shaker Heights, OH (near Cleveland) of a heart attack. In her obituary, she is listed as the mother of Mrs. Gertrude Kendis, Joseph E. Greenbaum (deceased), Mrs. Hermine Harmel, Mr. Jerome I. Greenbaum, Mrs. Selma Kane, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was buried at Mayfield Cemetery, Cleveland Hgts, OH.


Here are some of the records I've turned up about early Kornhausers in our family and in as yet unlinked Kornhausers:

Civil War
A Henry Kornhauer served in the Regular Army as a private. Absolutely no further information on him, so perhaps this is an indexing error.

Ship Records
Ship records will be incomplete for a variety of reasons, and contain various amounts of detail. Here are some of the Kornhausers I've identified from early ship records, however:
- Michael Kornhauser, arrived NYC in 1880, age 25
- Alphous Kornhauser arrived NYC on 25 Sep 1865 on board the ship Mercury which sailed from Le Havre, France. He was aged 23, b. about 1842.
- Armin Kornhauser arrived NYC on 28 Nov 1883 on board the ship Lessing which sailed from Hamburg, Germany & Le Havre, France. He was about age 9, b. about 1874, origins listed as Hungary. [an Armin Kornhauser later married a Yolande Adler in NYC in 1898]
- Cene Kornhauser arrived NYC on 16 Jan 1882 on board the ship Silesia which sailed from Hamburg, Germany and Le Havre, France. He was age 18, b. about 1864, origins Hungary.
- Fanny Kornhauser arrived 3 Nov 1880 in NYC.
- Hanora Kornhauser came to NYC before 1870
- David Kornhauser (almost certainly our Dewitt), age 18, arr. 27 Nov 1872 on ship Westphalia to NY (FHL film 0,472,904, page 1480)
I've not seen most of these Kornhausers in later records, so they may have changed names.

1870 Census
The earliest census records of Kornhausers in the U.S. begin about 1870. I find an Emanuel Kornhauser, age 22, clerk in store boarding with the Leary family in Penn, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was born in Hungary, as was Rebecca Leary, age 29 (the wife of the head of household). This could possibly be a brother/cousin.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY OHIO - Probate Court Naturalizations
From http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/oh/cuyahoga/probate/naturalizations/fr2le.txt
Natin Surname First_Name Middle_Name Name_Of_Vol Vol# Page# Country Date_Of_Arr Date_Of_Dec Date_Of_Natrlzn Problem
19409 Kornhauser Albert DOA 9 373 Hungary 5/1871 10/6/1883
19410 Kornhauser Albert NB 20 339 Hungary 10/9/1885
Transcription of Photocopied Records:
Probate Court in and for the County of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio
I, Albert Kornhauser, an alien and native of Hungary being duly sworn, depose and say that I first arrived in teh United States in the month of May A.D. 1871 and that it is bona fide my intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever, all allegiance and fidelity to every Foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly all allegiance and fidelity to Francis Joseph King whose subject I am.
Albert Kornhauser
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6 day of Oct AD 1883
H.A. Schwab, Deputy Clerk

In the Probate Court, Cuyahoga County, O.
October 9, 1885
This day came Albert Kornhauser an alien and a native of Hungary and proved to the satisfaction of the Court that he made in the Probate Court for Cuyahoga County Ohio more than two years ago, the requisite Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States: Thereupon the Court order that the oath of the person seeking to be Naturalized, and the affadavit of the person testifying in his behalf be taken, and the same is done accordingly, in the words and figures following, to wit:
Oath of Applicant
The State of Ohio
Cuyahoga County, ss
I, Albert Kornhauser do make solemn oath that I will support the consitution of the United States, and that I do absolutely and entirely renouce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every Foreign Prince, Potentate, State of Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly all allegiance and fidelity to Francis Joseph King whose subject I am.
A Kornhauser
Oath of Witness
The State of Ohio
Cuyahoga County, ss
I L. Salzer residing at No. 909 Pearl Stree, Cleveland, in said County, being duly sworn, depose and say that I am well acquainted with the above names A. Kornhauser that he has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for five years last past, and for one year last past within the State of Ohio, and that during the same period he has behaved himself as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.
L. Salzer
Subscribed in my presence and sworn to by said A Kornhauser Applicant and said L. Salzer Witness before me in open court this 9 day of Oct 1885.
Dan R. Tildew Probate Judge
Whereupon is was ordered by the Court that a Certificate of Citizenship be issued said Albert Kornhauser on payment of the costs of this application and the same is done accordingly.

Jefferson Co, OH Naturalizations
Two Kornhausers listed, apparently unrelated (?) to ours:
- Markus Kornhauser, age 22, from Hungary, court date on 5/8/1875 & 9/19/1877, witness George Poth
- David Kornhauser, from Austria, age 21, court date 10/4/1888 & 7//3/1891

1874 Rochester City Directory
Albert Kornhauser, clerk, 17 State, bds 34 Clinton Place

1880 Census
In 1880, Albert was a farm laborer in Parma, Cayahoga Co., Ohio, living with his father in law Sampson Goldberg. (US Census, page 304C).

I can't locate Dewitt in this census.

Marcus "Cornhauser" b. Hungary, age 29, appears in Steubenville, Ohio in 1880. He appears to be living alone. Dry goods and notions dealer. Probably same Marcus as naturalized above.

Maurice "Cornhauser" age 33, b. Hungary, liquor merchant is living in Chicago, IL with wife Jennie age 25 b. Hungary; children Henry age 6, Solomon age 4, Fannie age 3, Sarah age eight months, all b. IL. Also, brother (prob. in law) Maurice Roth age 23 b. Hungary, brother Benjamin Cornhauser age 22, b. Hungary.

1890 NYC City Directory
- Dewitt H. Kornhauser, shirts, 41 White, h. O. [means that his home was in Ohio]
- Joseph, frames, 452 Sixth av
- Martin, tailor, h 84 Sheriff
- Samuel, artist, h 237 Sixth

The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 23 Oct 1894:
"Hotel Arrivals: Coming and Going of Fort Wayne Hotel Visitors"
Al Kornhauser, Cleveland

1900 Census
In 1900, Albert, age 49, lived in Cleveland, OH and gives his birth as Apr 1851 in Hungary. Immigrated in 1871, naturalized. Occupation illegible. Owns a mortgaged house. Listed are wife Yetta (noted as the mother of 6 children, 5 of whom are living indicating a child of theirs died and hasn't yet been identified), and children: Esther, Samuel J., Carrie, David E., and Sidney I. Also, sister-in-law Lina Goldberg. Esther was b. in NY, others b. in OH.

Rosa Greenbaum, age 38, b. Germany, is living in Cleveland, OH with husband Morris and children: Gertrude age 14, Joseph age 12, Hermine age 9, Jerome age 5. Married 15 years. Rose is mother of 4 children, all living. Jennie Kornhauser (Rosa's mother), age 68, b. Germany, widowed, b. May 1832, mother of 4 children all living is in the same household.

1902 Cleveland Business Directory
A D.H. Kornhauser (clothing manufacturer and wholesaler) is listed in the 1902 Cleveland Business Directory. Brother to Albert. Also, an Emanuel Kornhauser (age 22, b. Hungary, store clerk) is listed in the 1870 Census for Penn, Westmoreland, PA. Another possible brother?

The Chicago blue book of selected names of Chicago and suburban towns : containing the names and addresses of prominent residents, arranged alphabetically and numerically by streets, also ladies' shopping guide, street directory, and other valuable information.
Chicago: Chicago Directory Co., 1905
- Mr & Mrs. Maurice Cornhauser, 149 42nd Place
- Solomon Cornhauser 149 42nd Place

1907 Voter Registration, Cleveland, OH
- Dewitt H. 1877 E 75th
- Samuel J, 5621 Scoville
- Samuel J. 5000 Woodland

Ellis Island, 1909
Sydney Kornhauser (US Citizen, probably Albert's son) arrived in Ellis Island on Aug 5, 1909 from Hamilton, Bermuda on ship Bermudian. He was age 22.

David E. Kornhauser (US Citizen, probably Albert's son) arrived in Ellis Island on Sept 17, 1909 from Naples, Italy on ship Cretic. He was age 28.

1910 Census
Albert is in US 1910 census, Allegheny, PA, ED 0419, visit 44. He is age 58, white, born Hungary, a wholesale grocery salesman. Living with him are Yetta and children Carrie, David E., and Sidney S., and sister in law Lina Goldberg.

Esther has married Adolph Marx and is living with him next door to her parents. Two children: Jeannette I. and Richard I. Marx.

Rose Greenbaum, age 49, b. Aust.-Bohemia, is living in Cleveland, OH with husband Morris and children: Joseph age 21, Hermine age 19, Jerome age 15, and Selma age 9. Married 25 years, first marriage for both. Rose is mother of 5 children, all living.

1910-1920
In 1917, the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book lists the following Kornhausers:
- Mrs. Albert living 5717 Pocusset St
- Miss Carrie, living 5715 Pocusset St
- Edgar S. living 5639 Wilkins Ave
- Mrs. T living 815 Hastings St. (probably Mrs. Tillie Kornhauser)
- Alter H. living Eldridge St (almost certainly a typo, meaning Walter... all others are alphabetical)

Also in this time period, David E. & Sidney registered for the WWI draft. Samuel J. and Sidney graduated from Harvard U. programs.

1920 Census
In 1920, Albert lived with his son-in-law, Adolf Marx (married to Albert's dau. Esther), in Pittsburgh, PA. Albert, age 68, came to the US in 1860 from Hungary where his parents also were born. He was naturalized in 1875. He could read and write and speak English, though his native tongue was Hungarian. He was apparently retired. Also living with the Marx family are Albert 's wife Yetta, age 64, b. in PA; Albert's dau Carrie, age 34, b. in OH; & Albert's sister-in-law Lina Goldberg, age 58 (widowed), b. in PA. This is according to the census of that area, Enumeration District: 489, Sheet: 7

Another Kornhauser family in Pittsburgh is the family of Tillie Kornhauser, a widow, age 63. She has three children: Edgar age 35, Blanch age 30, and Henrietta age 25, all born in PA. Unclear if or how they are related.

David E. Kornhauser (Albert's son) was living with wife Mary and son David H. in Camden, NJ.

Samuel J. Kornhauser (Albert's son) was living with wife Minnie and children Joseph W., Daniel W., and Betty J. in Cleveland Heights, OH.

Sidney I. Kornhauser was living with wife Anna M. and son Albert E. and mother in law Eolia K. Marshall in Granville, OH.

Dewitt H. Kornhauser (Albert's brother) was living in a large boarding house in Cleveland with his wife Ida (Loewenstein). Dewitt was age 62, born Hungary, immigrated 1873, naturalized in 1883. He lists his father's place of birth as Frankfurt, Germany and his mother tongue as German; mother's place of birth as Hungary, mother tongue Magyar, Hungarian. He is in insurance.

Jewish Independent
May 21, 1920
Vol. 29, No. 14, pg 6
"Albert Kornhauser, aged sixty- nine, died May 8 in his home on Pocusset street, Pittsburg. He was born in Hungary andcame to this country when a young man. He moved to Pittsburg from Cleveland twenty years ago. He was a member of Rodelph Shalom congregation. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Yetta Kornhauser; three sons, Samuel J., David E. and Sidney I. Kornhauser; two daughters, Mr. A. J. Marx, and Miss Carrie Kornhauser; one brother D. Henry Kornhauser; one sister Mrs. R. Greenbaum, and eight grandchildren."

Dewitt Henry dies
death certificate lists date of death as 1/26/1921.

Interesting quotation re: Sidney
Cradles of Conscience: Ohio's Independent Colleges By James A. Hodges, John William Oliver, James H. O'Donnell; Published 2003; Kent State University Press
page 153
"In the spring of 1922 dissatisfaction [with President of Denison University, Chamberlain] erupted into open opposition over the dismissal of Sidney I. Kornhauser, a popular professor of biology who was Jewish. Kornhauser had replaced a professor going on leave in 1919. He was a capable zoologist and a popular instructor in an era when many religious and political conservatives were coming to attack the teaching of evolution. When he refused to resign quietly in 1922, Chamberlain dismissed him, citing the trustees' declaration of 1913 that Denison was a denominational college and that its instructors "should not only be proficient in their departments, but... should also be men of the highest Christian character." Ironically, that declaration had probably been adopted back in 1913 to reassure the Denison constituency that the appointment of a scientist (Chamberlain) as president did not mean a departure from the college's commitment to piety as well as learning. But its use against Kornhauser touched off a controversy that would not subside for years."

More Sidney Kornhauser info/links:
Stazione Zoologica Napoli, Italy - History: http://www.szn.it/

Professor Locy @ Northwestern Univ.

Marine Biological Lab @ Woods Hole, MA Archives

Biological Stain Commission

Obituary from R.D. Lillie in Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry

Cytology of the Seaside Earwig by Sidney I. Kornhauser (1921)

Two papers presented at a conference in 1920 when at Denison University

Kornhauser offered admission bribes