Person:Joseph Keller (14)

Address: Address 1: Harrisburg, PA/22 Scrantom St./ 370 Empire Blvd./Gravel Road City: /Rochester/Rochester/West Webster State: PA/New York

Born on a Friday and died on a Saturday

The Year Was 1894 The year was 1894 and the world was still in the midst of the "Long Depression." In the U.S., following the Panic of 1893, unemployment was estimated at more than 18%. People were desperate for work and in 1894, Jacob S. Coxey led a protest march from Massillon, Ohio to Washington, D.C. Starting out with one hundred men, five hundred arrived in Washington demanding work on public projects. They were denied and the Coxey was arrested for trespassing when he tried to speak. "Coxey's Army" was one of several groups planning to march on Washington, but the only sizeable group to complete the journey. (Click through to the blog to see an image of Coxey's Army from the Library of Congress Photo Collection at Ancestry.)

In Chicago, George Pullman had cut pay for his employees by 25%. All of his workers were required to live in "Pullman City" and paid rent to Pullman--a rent that remained static despite the pay cuts. The hardship this created pushed three thousand Pullman workers to strike. It was a "wildcat" strike (without the approval of the union), but some American Railroad Union workers followed in support, refusing to move any train with a Pullman car, unless it carried mail. Since most trains by this time had Pullman cars, this affected the railway system across the country. Eventually a federal court ruled that the strike was illegal and federal troops were called in. Violence ensued as riots broke out and in a violent confrontation with soldiers on July 7, many rioters were killed or wounded.

In New York, 10,000 tailors went on strike on Labor Day to bring attention to sweatshop conditions. At that time workers worked under a "task" system wherein they were given a certain number of garments that needed to be created for a fixed price. The tasks had been increasing in size, while wages remained static requiring workers to work longer hours. This meant that workers were being paid around a dollar a day, and working in some cases eighteen hour days. While the strike did attract some attention, the problems of wages and working conditions in the garment industry would continue to be a problem.

The railroad era had been a boon for the timber industry in the Upper Midwest. The ability to transport lumber by rail, rather than by water--a mode plagued by perilous log jams, rapids, and other obstacles--gave rise to small lumber towns in the Upper Midwest. The town of Hinckley, Minnesota, located between the Twin Cities and Duluth, was one such town. Surrounded by forests and built entirely of wood, on 1 September 1894, a firestorm swept through the town killing at least 419 people. Many of the victims suffocated because firestorms use up the oxygen in the area. Survivors found refuge in muddy Skunk Lake or in a gravel pit, and others were evacuated by trains that were approaching the town when the fire struck.

In London, England, traffic on the London Bridge had become a problem. While there were bridges crossing the Thames to the west, there were none to the east. With population growing on east end of London travel on London Bridge was sometimes delayed for hours. A new bridge was needed and in 1894 the famous Tower Bridge opened. At the time of the opening, it didn't receive the warm welcome you'd expect, but it has since come be a beloved landmark of the city.

Josef Pinczés was born in Semlak, Hungary (which became Romania after WWI) on 16 November 1894. Birth Record in State Archives Arad, Register 42, page 42, item number 30. He was born 2 months after his niece Juliana Schilling Holb. The midwife was the wife of Konrad Rózsa. "Imre Pinczés recognized the child as his." Listed as illegitimate. Address given is for the widower, Heinrich (Imre) Pinczés. It indicates the house number is 693. In Semlak, this Pinczés branch was called Hentesch.

Joseph came to America to avoid conscription in the army and to make a better life for himself; he was the last of 13 children and there wouldn't be much of the family property for him. He immigrated to America on the Bremen out of Bremen. He arrived at Ellis Island on September 24, 1913. He was traveling with his half brother, Konrad, and with a friend, Heinrich Beischroth. He had $25 with him. He was listed as being 5'7" tall with brown hair and blue eyes. They were going to Harrisburg to a friend, Daniel Schmidt, at 1224 Lev Street. I believe his name on the ship's manifest as Josef Pinczés was the last time he went by that name. Rather, he reverted back to the original German name of his ancestors. He had also commented that people called him Joe Pinch and he didn't want to be known by that name. All of his family that came to this side of the Atlantic also reverted back to the name Keller. One year later he married Maria Wagner in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1914. Their first child, Henry, was born in Harrisburg. He moved to Rochester, along with his wife and son, after Harrisburg because others went there and there were jobs.

At the end of WWI (1921), he and wife, Mary, decided to return to Hungary with their two children (Henry & Elizabeth). They went with Mary's parents. When he arrived in Semlak, he found his mother working in the field. She didn't recognize him as he had left as a boy and come back a man with mustache. He asked her, "Mother, don't you know me?" She replied sadly, "Oh my son, why have you come home?" Times were bad. My Aunt Katherine tells me that my father finally told my mother that he couldn't remain in Hungary. Here is how she told the story . . .

"We went back to Semlak after the World War One. I was about eight or close to it. Your parents went along. Henry probably was about five years old. Your sister was very young. Maybe about three months old. I don't think your parents stayed more than a year. Your father went to work for another farmer. He worked about three days digging potatoes out. There was no machine -- it was done with the shovel. Well when he was done, the guy paid him with about one bushel of potatoes. Your father came home and said, 'That's it, we are going back.'"

On the Boston Manifest for the Rotterdam out of Boulogne-sure-Mer, Joseph states he left his mother, Mrs. Susanna Keller, at No. 490 Szemlak, Romania. They were going to their friend (actually Mary's second cousin), Martin Bartolf at 320 River Street, Hoboken, New York.

After returning from Semlak, he and his family returned to Rochester and he became a naturalized citizen after applying for a petition on March, 1921.

Monroe County Naturalization Records, Volume 178, page 25, gives us information on Joseph's gaining citizenship. The last time he entered the US (after the post-war trip to Hungary and the disillusionment about remaining there) was an emigration from Boulogne, France on the 10th day of February 1921, landing at the port of Boston, MA on the 21st day of February. They sailed on the Rotterdam. Leaving from Boulogne meant they had to cross Hungary, Austria, and France -- most likely by train. I can't help but wonder why they didn't leave from a closer port.

His witnesses for his petition for citizenship were Joseph Stadler, his brother-in-law, who is listed as a chauffeur, and Henry Gotcsik, his good friend and godfather to his daughter, Elizabeth, who is listed as a grinder (he worked at Bausch and Lomb). Stadler's address is listed as 12 Mauder Park and Gotcsik is listed at 56 Amsterdam Road, both in Rochester. Joseph's address in 1928 is 22 Scrantom Street. His occupation is listed as "Hauling Contractor."

On petition pre-form (called Certificate of Intention), the following is how he is described: Occupation: Laborer Color: White Complexion: Dark Height: 5' 8 1/2" Hair: Brown Eyes: Hazel No distinctive Marks Date of Intention: March 19, 1921 (which was a month after returning from Hungary!)

I can remember riding in the car, pretending to sleep on the back seat, and listening to my parents singing and harmonizing. My dad, in a romantic mood, would sing "Semlak Kind" to my mother about a young girl who wouldn't kiss her suitor. He was a proud man and quite handsome with very thick and very curly hair. One leg was shorter due to a lumbering accident when he was still in Hungary. A tree fell on his leg and the doctor did a poor job of setting the broken bone.

He only had a third-grade education but he was an intelligent man. He would listen to the language of his co-workers (mostly Italian); he would come home at night and write down the words with their English equivalent. He was also incredible in addition. He would have a long list of numbers (more than one column) -- he would trace his fingers down the column and announce the total (always correct).

Eventually he had a trucking business (four trucks and he employed "landsmen" -- Mr. Beck was one of them). He hauled coal. He was riding high on success and had a six-passenger car with fold down "jump seats" and lead glass flower holders. The depression and an accident with one of his trucks wiped out his business. He lost one truck after another. He started drinking and became an alcoholic. Later he worked for Domine Builders as a driver. Despite his drinking problem, he never missed a day of work. He was hard working and a dependable employee. He was never an abusive drunk and was loved by his family.

Joe Keller was a very likeable and charming fellow and was popular because of these traits. He was loving and cared for his family during years of hardship. We always thought he was the strongest of men. I can also remember his playing his cornet -- he and his fellow immigrants would march and play. He was a people person and enjoyed dancing, singing, drinking, and playing cards.

My children always talked about his bravery with bees. One day a bee was flying around his head and he held up his thumb and first finger, caught the bee, and squeezed it dead. They were amazed and to this day, even though they are adults, talk about his amazing talent.

One very funny story was my father's confrontation with a skunk ... the skunk was sneaking into the chicken coop nightly. One night my dad knew the skunk was in the chicken yard, so he went rushing out with a double-barreled shotgun. When he came face to face with the skunk, he became excited and pulled both barrels at once. He shot the skunk but also knocked himself unconscious with the impact of both barrels hitting him on the chin. Not hearing anything after the explosion, my mother went running out and found both of them flat out on the ground -- one dead and one unconscious.

On 17 June 1967, my father succumbed to the terrible cancer that had wracked his body. He died at home as my mother didn't want him to die in the hospital. If he hadn't smoked, he would have lived a longer life ... the doctors said his heart was strong despite all the abuse he had given his body. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery at R368. His "Semlak Kind" joined him three years later.

Death Certificate lists his occupation as Owner and proprietor of a trucking company. Mother gave the German names for his parents as Henry Keller and SUnited States of Americanne Rosinger (rather than Imre Pinczés and SUnited States of Americanna Rózsa).

Immediate cause of death is listed as: Brain Metastasis; due to Inoperable Lung Cancer. Interval between onset of disease and death was listed as 6 months.

[Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.123736.10]

Individual: Keller, Joseph Birth date: Nov 16, 1894 Death date: Jun 1967 Social Security #: 078-16-0921 Last residence: New York 14580 State of issue: New York

Quick snapshots of my Father:

Unbelievable ability to do math quickly. Strong, hard working--very clever. In his youth, tree fell on leg and left him with a lifetime limp. After WWI, returned to Hungary for 1 year, not happy. Proud and determined. Very clever with his hands.

Joseph's grandfather was known as Hantasch--I don't know if that is his Pinczés grandfather or his Rózsa grandfather. People forgot the grandfather's real name and only called him by his butcher name, Zsarvach (Hirsch). I believe this information came from my Uncle Henry (cousin) Keller.

1. ↑ Georg Schmidt. Semlak Lutheran (Evangelische) Church Birth Records.

   Semlak Birth Records. Birth Record in State Archives Arad, Register 42, page 42, item number 30.

2. ↑ Monroe County Death Certificate.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Family Records.
4.   Social Security Index.
5. ↑ Georg Schmidt of Germany. Reformed Church Familienbuch.

   Recorded in Reformed Familienbuch but it is our personal knowledge that he later became an Agnostic.

6. ↑ Ladislau Gyémánt, Researcher
   Page 42.

   State Archives Arad Reg. 42, No. 30

7. ↑ Ellis Island Manifest.
8. ↑ ^8.0 8.1 Draft Registration Form on Ancestry.com.
9.   Draft Registration Form on Ancestry.com.

   Roll No. 1818807. No previous military service.

10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 Census Records - FHC
    T625, Roll 1121, Page 99.

    1920 Census Records - FHC.

11. ↑ Ship Manifest Copy.
12. ↑ Naturalization Pre-Form.

    Naturalization Pre-Form. Also Manifest for the Rotterdam arriving in Boston.

13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Rochester Directory.
14. ↑ Ellis Island Manifest.

    Georg Wagner states on the ship's manifest that he is going to his friend Joseph Keller at 31 Oakman St., Rochester, NY

15. ↑ Census Records - FHC.

    1925 Census Records - FHC.

16. ↑ Witnessed Paper at Monroe County Office.
17. ↑ Census Records - FHC.

    1930 Census Records - FHC.

18. ↑ Family Records.

    I can remember the move from Scrantom Street to Empire Blvd.

19. ↑ Family Records.

    I can remember when my parents moved to Gravel Road.