Bertha Elizabeth KROMBACH

The History of the Schaefer Family at 1659 Hancock Street 1659 Hancock Street is a three-story, three-family, brick row house in Ridgewood, Queens. The house was built in 1910. Sometime between 1910 and 1911, Bertha Schaefer moved into one of the rental units with her unmarried children, Katherine, Charles and William. Daughter, Minnie Miller, and her young family moved into another one of the rental units. Son, Frederick Schaefer, married in 1908, lived with his wife, the former Louise Hoffer, and his three young children elsewhere in Ridgewood. In January 1912, Charles Schaefer married Catherine Brugel and moved out of his mother’s apartment at 1659 Hancock Street. In February 1913, Katherine Schaefer married Emil Triebe. Emil Triebe moved to 1659 Hancock Street, where he and Katherine lived in the same apartment as Bertha Schaefer and her youngest son, William. In November 1913, Bertha Triebe was born at 1659 Hancock Street. In June 1916, Edna Triebe was born at 1659 Hancock Street. Emil Triebe was still living at 1659 Hancock Street when he registered for the WW I draft in 1917. By 1920, the family had moved to Wycoff Avenue in Ridgewood. Arthur Triebe was born in March, 1918. Further research will be needed to determine the place of Arthur's birth. In August 1917, William Schaefer married Mamie Bohn and moved to Cornelia Street in Ridgewood. Daughter, Marie Schaefer, was born in 1918. In October 1918, Louise Schaefer died of influenza. Frederick Schaefer and the three children, Charles, Mildred and Dorothy, moved to 1659 Hancock Street, where they lived with Bertha Schaefer. In August 1920, Frederick Schaefer died of Typhoid Fever. His three children then lived with their grandmother, Bertha Schaefer, until they married. It was about 1921, when both Katherine Triebe and Mamie Schaefer became ill with TB. Mamie, William and Marie Schaefer moved back to 1659 Hancock Street, where they lived with Bertha Schaefer. Katherine and Emil Triebe remained where they lived on Cypress Avenue, while the Triebe children went to stay with their grandmother, Bertha Schaefer, at 1659 Hancock Street. Perhaps Minnie Miller or Bertha Schaefer cared for Katherine Triebe, only a five minute walk away. Mamie Schaefer died in December 1922 and Katherine Triebe died in September 1923. William and his daughter, Marie, remained at 1659 Hancock Street until William remarried in 1926. The Triebe children remained at 1659 Hancock Street until Emil remarried in 1924. The 1925 Census lists the household of Bertha Schaefer at 1659 Hancock Street as: Bertha Schaefer (Mother) William Schaefer (Son) Charles Schaefer (Grandson) Mildred Schaefer (Granddaughter) Dorothy Schaefer (Granddaughter) The household of Arthur and Minnie Miller at 1659 Hancock Street is listed as: Arthur Miller (Head) Minnie Miller (Wife) Katherine Miller (Daughter) Mabel Miller (Daughter) Marie Schaefer (Niece) Sometime between 1925 and 1930, Bertha Schaefer bought a house on 64th Lane in Glendale and Arthur and Minnie Miller bought a house nearby on 64th Place. Charles Schaefer bought a house on 64th Street and William Schaefer bought a house on 64th Lane. During the same time period, Emil Triebe bought a house on Seneca Avenue in Ridgewood. The Triebe household was now a 15 minute walk from the Schaefer and Miller households.

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