Notes for Andrew Jackson Berger: There is confusion as to where Andrew Jackson was born. In census records, it says Maryland. In his one obituary, it says Paris, France. His parents left Wagshurst, Baden, Germany in 1830 probably to sail out of LeHavre, France on their way here. We are ordering the Baden Emigration Index films on Jan. 1, 2003, to check for Moriz and Anastasia's records. At that time, they had to get permission to emigrate and these records were saved. We have been searching all existing immigration records for their arrival in America but have been unable to find them anywhere. They first appear in Baltimore in the Federal Census in 1850. One daughter, Lucia, is not with them. We do not know what happened to her. They emigrated with Lucia and Christina (see census information in Notes with Moriz Berger.
Found in the 1860 Census - York County, PA Andrew, Mary, John Maurice, age 2 years and Mary's mother Anna Heidler/Hydler/Heyedler. In 1860, Anna was a widow. Andrew was a sadler while in York (Bottstown).
Andrew Berger, harnessmaker, appeared in the following Baltimore City directories. This information was compiled by Cousin Joyce Stevens.
1864, 1868 through 1890, 1892 through 1904 at the following addresses beginning with the earliest. Some of these may have been work addresses and some home addresses: 57 Richmond 2 Forrest Pl. 532 Harford Avenue 57 Richmond 231 E. Biddle 47 E. Chase 727 E. Chase 727 E. Preston 939 Ensor 324 W. West 606 E. Eager 914 Forrest E 709 E. Biddle 1018 Greenmount Avenue 1016 Greenmount avenue
1900 Federal Census
Andrew Berger was living at 1016 Greenmount Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland in 1900 with his daughter Virginia, son Alphonso, son-in-law, John C. Etzel, daughter Annie Etzel and grandson, Andrew J. Etzel.
The following is the information in the census:
Berger, Andrew b. Nov. 1832 age 67 widower marr. 44 yrs. b. Md, Mo. b. Germ., Fa. b. Germ., harnessmaker Berger, Virginia daughter b. Feb 1881 age 19 single b. Md, Mo. b. Md, Fa b. PA saleslady Berger, Alphonso M. son b. Nov. 1873 age 26 single " " " comedian Etzel, John C. son in law b. Oct. 1876 age 23 married 4 yrs. strawhatter Etzel, Annie L. daughter[Berger] b. July 1877 age 22 married 4 yrs. Etzel, Andrew J. grandson[Berger] b. July 1897 age 2 single
Harness makers were respected tradesmen whose services were required by everyone who owned a horse. They were as essential to their community then as the mechanic and upholsterer is today.
Andrew was also a volunteer firefighter in Baltimore and was a member and officer of the Veterans Volunteer Firefighters Association. His sons, John M. and Pierre J., were also volunteer firefighters and members of this Association.
Obituary for Andrew Berger(Burger) found by Cousin Joyce in the Gazette, York, PA., Saturday Morning, April 10, 1915.
AGED FIREMAN DEAD
Andrew Burger[Berger], a former Yorker, one of the oldest firemen of Baltimore, died yesterday morning. Word was received here yesterday by Fire Chief H. L. Wills. Mr. Burger was a member of the Vigilant Fire company, this city; before his removal to Baltimore prior to the Civil war. He took an active part in the Baltimore city fire department and was one of the eleven veteran firemen living of the 7,000 or more when it was changed into a paid department. Mr. Burger was a harness maker by trade and made the first set of harness used in the Baltimore city fire department. He was about 80 years.
Note: This newspaper article/obituary is transcribed from a Baltimore Newspaper, April 9, 1915Note: This newspaper article/obituary is transcribed from a Baltimore Newspaper, April 9, 1915.
ANDREW J. BERGER DEAD
Former Politician and Fireman Was 73 Years Old.
East Baltimore lost one of its notable characters when Andrew Jackson Berger, former president of the Hendricks Club of the Tenth ward, for five years head of the Veteran volunteer Firemen’s Association and last surviving member of the old New Market Fire Company, died Wednesday afternoon at his home, 918 Greenmount Avenue, from a complication of diseases. He was 73 years old.
For 10 years, he had been custodian of the volunteer company’s engine house at 9 Harrison Street. Previous to that he had been a harness maker, an oyster inspector and, under Mayor William Pinkney Whyte, superintendent of street lighting in the Western district. He was always a loyal Democrat, and was a member of the committee of one hundred that nominated Whyte for the Mayoralty, being a representative of what was then the Eighth ward.
His father, Maurice Berger, was a native of Alsace. When Napoleon returned from Elba [1815] Berger and a brother, being opponents of the Napoleonic regime, emigrated to America. The brothers parted in New York, Maurice coming to Baltimore, where for many years he was a contractor.
Andrew J. Berger for 20 years was an employee in the harness shop of William Platt, which was first located on Light Street, later on Howard. Then he set up in business for himself, retiring after 10 years to accept a city job. He was always active in ward politics, and in his prime had a considerable local following.
His wife, who was formerly Miss Mary Ann Raymond, of York, Pa., died 27 years ago. He leaves five children – John M., Alphonso M. and Perrie [sp - Pierre] Berger, Mrs. John Etzel and Mrs. Benjamin Manko---and 11 grandchildren.
His funeral will be held at 9 o’clock this morning from St. John’s Catholic Church, where a requiem mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Stephen McCabe. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.
The active pallbearers will be his five grandsons—Andrew J. Berger, Cosmos J. Berger, John Philip Berger, Andrew J. Etzel and Joseph J. Etzel and a nephew, Maurice Rigger.
More About Andrew Jackson Berger: Address at death: 918 Greenmount Avenue.21 Burial: April 10, 1915, Holy Cross Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland. Cause of death (Facts Pg): Influenza. Occupation: Harnessmaker. Religion: Catholic.
More About Andrew Jackson Berger and Mary Anna Reinmond/Raymond: Marriage: May 01, 1857
Children of Andrew Jackson Berger and Mary Anna Reinmond/Raymond are:
+John Maurice Berger, b. April 25, 1858, York, Pennsylvania22, d. March 16, 1933, Baltimore, Maryland.
Andrew Jackson Berger (b. November 12, 1832, d. April 07, 1915)
Notes for Andrew Jackson Berger: