Notes for Ferdinand Sulzmann: Ferdinand was born in Villingen, Germany in 1809, educated there and was a "customs officer". He first married Mary Agnes Bendel, and they had four children, all born in Villingen: Charles A. (our great-grandfather), Bartholomew J., Agnes and Louisa. We know nothing more about the three siblings of Charles, except that they all predeceased him. According to one reliable source, Ferdinand came to the US with Mary Agnes and Charles in 1854. In the 1854 Troy (NY) City Directory, Ferdinand is listed as a coppersmith and living at 21 Liberty Street (in St. Mary's parish, downtown Troy). On Aug. 25, 1854, Troy had its Second Great Fire encompassing several blocks, including Liberty St. Whether or not this was the reason they left the city for Vincennes, Indiana, we don't know. But, by the 1860 Census, Ferdinand and Charles were settled back here in Waterford, NY. There is no further mention of his wife from this point on, so we aren't sure if she died sometime earlier in Troy, in Indiana or shortly after arriving in Waterford ...she just disappears.
Anyway, in 1860, Ferdinand & Charles are listed as machinists in Waterford. At some point Ann Davie (b. 1818), a Waterfordian since the 1840's, probably born in Ireland and likely a widow, marries Ferdinand. They lived on South Street in Waterford. On April 15, 1881 Ferdinand died, and, in a brief obit in the Troy Daily Times, it says:
"Ferdinand Sulzmann, an old and respected resident of Waterford, died last night. Mr. Sulzmann has been an invalid from paralysis for a number of years."
The funeral was from St. Mary's Church and burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery, Waterford. Ann died June 30, 1894 at their house on South St. and is buried alongside Ferdinand (see Katherine's Family History webpage for pictures of the gravestones). By the way, it was Charles A. who eventually dropped the second "n" from our last name.
More About Ferdinand Sulzmann: Burial: St. Mary's Cemetary, Waterford, NY.1565, 1566
More About Ferdinand Sulzmann and Mary Agnes Bendel: Marriage: Germany.1567, 1568
More About Ferdinand Sulzmann and Ann Davie: Marriage: Waterford, NY.1569
Children of Ferdinand Sulzmann and Mary Agnes Bendel are:
Ferdinand Sulzmann (b. 1809, d. April 15, 1881)
Notes for Ferdinand Sulzmann: