Anna A. Fiesser

Anna A. Fiesser (Baumgartner)

Greeting: I am Roberto Valerio John Costantino of Loudoun County, Virginia (born 1957). My mother was the late Ruth Louise Costantino (Fiesser) of Fairfax County, Virginia (1919 - 1996). She was the youngest of seven children born to Jacob Herman Fiesser and Anna A. (Baumgartner) Fiesser his wife of North Bergen, Hudson County, New Jersey. Anna A. Fiesser is pictured here with her grandson, Robert (Bob) Fiesser, around the year 1952.

Anna A. Fiesser (Baumgartner) was my grandmother on my mother's side of the family. She died about six months before I was born. My mother said that Anna or Annie as she was commonly called was born in New York, New York, on May 29, 1882. The former Anna A. Baumgartner was the daughter of Friederich E. Baumgartner and Mathilda A. Baumgartner (Haack) of New York City. In 1879 "Edward Baumgarten" [sic} and "Mathilda Hawk" [sic] were recorded as having been married in Manhattan, New York (Marriage Registers, Cert. No. 1532, Manhattan (1869-1880), Dept. of Health, Div. of Vital Statistics, New York). It seems that some official records carry Anna's father by his apparent middle name of Edward (Eduard). Nevertheless, my cousin, Robert Fiesser, remembers him through his late father's memories as one Fred Baumgartner.

Anna A. Fiesser's (Baumgartner) parents were immigrants to the United States. My mother told me that Anna's father was an ethnic German immigrant from Stettin. The city of Stettin was a seaport in the Baltic Sea in the Province of East Prussia, within the Kingdom of Prussia, within the German Empire. The former Stettin is now called Szczecin, Poland. It is noted that following Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II in 1945, war torn East Prussia was divided at Joseph Stalin's insistence between the Soviet Union (the Kaliningrad Oblas), the People's Republic of Poland (Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship), and the Lithuanian, SSR (Klaipeda Region). Also, my mother told me that Anna's mother, Mathilda, was an ethnic Danish German immigrant from Holstein. Her maiden name was Haack. Holstein or presently Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany. My mother said that Anna's great uncle was a genealogist including the Fiesser line but those familial relations vanished long ago. It is Robert Fiesser's understanding from his late father that one of Anna's uncles fought in the Civil War.

Related research of the U.S. Census for 1900 reveals Anna was recorded as the daughter of Edward Baumgartner, age 51, and Matilda his wife, age 47, of West Hoboken (Ward 2), Hudson County, New Jersey. They had then been married for around 21 years. The head of household, Edward, was born in Germany in March, 1849, and had immigrated to the United States in 1875. Edward and Matilda were the parents of three dependent children counting Matilda, age 21; Annie, age 18; and Amanda; age 15. Additionally, Edward was counted in the New Jersey State Census for 1895 as a male German race resident of West Hoboken, Ward 2, Hudson County, New Jersey. Meanwhile, Mathilda Baumgartner was counted in the New Jersey State Census for 1895 as a female German race resident of West Hoboken, Ward 2, Hudson County, New Jersey.

The U.S. Census for 1880 shows Anna's parents being then from New York, New York, which confirms my late mother's recollections. A certain E. Baumgartner was listed as a 31 year-old German born "piano maker" with a spouse called Matilda wrongly listed at the same age. The Census reports that both of Matilda's parents had been born in "Holstein". E. Baumgartner and Matilda his wife were the parents of one seven months old girl called Matilda. The reference to Holstein was no doubt for a time before Schleswig and Holstein were both incorporated into Prussia as the Province od Schleswig-Holstein in 1866. Holstein in German or Holsteen in Danish is the region between the rivers Elbe and Elder. The former Mathilda Haack was born in Holstein, Germany, around 1847. It seems that she immigrated to the United States dated May 23, 1868, on the ship " Harmonia" from Hamburg, Germany (see New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957). The New York City Directory, 1884-1885, lists an Edward Baumgartner, "piano mkr." (piano maker) then residing at 506 W. 36th Street.

Around the year 1900, Anna or Annie Baumgartner was married at about eighteen years of age to a certain Jacob Herman Fiesser (1867-1944) in New York, probably, according to my mother. Jacob was about sixteen years older than Anna. He was an ethnic German immigrant from Eppelheim through England. Jacob H. Fiesser and Anna his wife were bilingual; German and English. It is apparent that Jacob's first language was German. He was not gifted with a free vocabulary in English (obituary). Jacob H. Fiesser and Anna his wife belonged to the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. It appears they had lived in Union City, New Jersey, as that was where their daughter Dorothy Fiesser was born around 1904 (see 01/4/1932, New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957). The Fiesser family would ultimately make their home on then Hamilton Avenue, North Bergen (Ward 1), Hudson County, New Jersey. They lived on a large lot(s) of land in a big comfortable dwelling house with greenhouses, outbuildings, and a retail store. It is my understanding that North Bergen High School was built over the site of their house.

Anna was a homemaker. Jacob was head of household. He was a noted florist. Jacob was the owner and operator of J.H. Fiesser & Son, Inc., a wholesale horticulture business with a nursery and as many as thirty greenhouses. Anna A. Fiesser and Jacob her husband were the parents of seven children counting by order of birth Mildred; Edward George; Dorothy Hermana; Helen Frances; Anna Viola; Herman Paul; and, Ruth Louise, who is my mother.

It appears that Jacob H. Fiesser absented himself from his household for considerable periods of time during my mother's formative years. Edward or Eddie Fiesser would manage things in his father's absence. Jacob and Anna's granddaughter through Helen Frances White (Fiesser), Sally Hoblitzell (White) of Massachusetts, told me on May 29, 2011, that Jacob and Anna were separated when she was a girl. Anna had lived in the big dwelling house with the children while Jacob stayed in an apartment next to their retail store on the same ground. My cousin, Robert Fiesser, understands that his grandfather, Jacob, kept a mistress or serial mistresses.

My mother said the effects of the Great Depression slowly undid J.H. Fiesser & Son, Inc. including considerable real estate interests. On August 18, 1944 Jacob Herman Fiesser died in North Hudson Hospital from the effects of a stroke he suffered at home the day before. It was written that he had not been feeling well for around six months. Robert Fiesser possesses two obituaries for Jacob from his late father H. Paul Fiesser. One of them appears to have been from the Union Dispatch while the other is presumably from The Record ("The Bergen Record"). Jacob Herman Fiesser deceased was buried in a family plot in Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, New Jersey. Jacob's widow, the said Anna or Annie, lived out her life in the big dwelling house at 1111 76th Street, North Bergen, New Jersey.

It was always my perception that my mother was ambivalent in her feelings toward her deceased father. She generally had very little whatsoever to say about him or her ancestors. It is further noted that Jacob's widow never so much as even mentioned her deceased husband in five surviving letters in my possession from Anna A. Fiesser (Baumgartner) to her daughter, Ruth Costantino (Fiesser), dated between 1954 and 1956. It is noted that in 1942 Edward G. Fiesser of North Bergen, N.J. was married to a certain Frances Palmer of Kiskatom, New York (see Catskill, N.Y., Examiner-Recorder newspaper dated January 7, 1943). It is apparent from the aforesaid letters that Eddie and Frances his wife looked after his widowed mother and took special care of her. Anna A. Fiesser died sometime in September, 1956. She was buried in the family plot in Fairview Cemetery.

As was noted, the author has five letters dated between November 3, 1954, and August 22, 1956, from Anna A. Fiesser to her daughter, Ruth F. Costantino, who was then living with her family in London, England, or care of the Fairfax Hotel, Washington, D.C., before they moved to Bangkok, Thailand. It is apparent that Anna was a kind, unselfish, and loving person. She was especially interested in the health and wellbeing of her children and grandchildren. It seems that she was especially close to her oldest son, Edward (Eddie) Fiesser and Frances his wife. Robert Fiesser, Anna's grandson by H. Paul Fiesser and Natalie his wife, wrote me on June 12, 2010 that he knows of a photograph; "There's one of Grandma sitting in my mother's tavern with this stern, disapproving look that I find hilarious".

From a letter from Anna Fiesser, 1111 76th Street, North Bergen, N.J., bearing date, November 2, 1954, to her daughter, Ruth F. Costantino, 37 Green Street, London, England: Anna made some remarks about her granddaughter, Marie-Louise Costantino, as follows, "Marie L. must have enjoyed every minute of your vacation. She looks perfectly happy to be out in the open unhampered by any clothes. She still looks like Pamela. Her hair is just as curly. She showed good sense in accepting (illegible) (illegible) as a reasonable facsimile of bow wow." She commented about Ruth, "You look good, but you seem to have gotten very thin. I hope you are not overdoing it." She added, "We had 3 hurricanes, but fortunately the house received only minor damage & there was no great damage in the neighborhood."

In a letter dated April 27, 1955, from Anna Fiesser, North Hudson Hospital, North Bergen, New Jersey, to Ruth F. Costantino, 37 Green Street, London, England: Anna firstly noted that, "Frances brought your last 2 letters to me here to see." She wrote about her circumstances, "I asked tel. operator to call Eddie & he & Frances came right over. Eddie called up for oxygen and in no time my kitchen was filled with men. Two men came with oxygen, a policeman came along, also an intern from North Hudson. Charlie Speck & Howard Strander also came in. The intern suggested hospital and I consented & I'm here still." She continued, "It was 4 weeks yesterday that I was brought here, but I have reached the point where I can sit up for 1/2 hour or more. 4 weeks ago today the attack came on." She continued, "A lot of things were found wrong with me, and I still don't know just what they are, but right now I am feeling quite well & I have no complaints. The nurses here are very nice and I have a private room with 2 windows. I have a new Dr. Cannon is loosing his eyesight & his health is not good, so he has office hours only 4 days a week. He selected Dr. Marshall to be my Dr. Anne knows him for yrs. and she had him for her Dr. I hope to be home in a week or so, but I will be less able to do things than before." She commented abourt Ruth, "I'm glad to hear you are having some good weather, so try & get out in it with Marie L. The reason she is slow in talking is that she doesn't get in contact with other children. However she will soon catch up, don't worry. I hope you are feeling well, and hope whatever the government decides about your future, it will be a promotion. She went on about her circumstances, "I don't know how much longer I will be here, probably not more than a week. Love to you, Arthur, and Marie L." Anna would sign her letters with, "Mother".

From a letter dated December 8, 1955, from Anna Fiesser to her daughter, Ruth F. Costantino: Anna made some remarks about her grandchildren by Ruth and Arturo Costantino, her husband, "I enjoy your letters, especially about the children, and I hope you will keep on writing. You describe Arturo Jr. and I'm wondering if he looks something like Paul looked as a baby. Too bad you are kept awake to feed Louise at night. Marie L. seems to be a girl with a mind of her own. I think it cute that she learned to say 'go away'. You and Arthur must be quite busy making Christmas presents for the children. I think it more fun than just giving out and buying them. Do you have Santa Claus in England? Also, Christmas trees?" Also, Anna wrote about her health condition, "Several weeks ago I got a virus cold which went over into pneumonia (bronchial). I was hardly over that when I got a head cold, which I still have. I wasn't out of it & the Dr. says someone brought the germs to me. He was here 10 times in 3 weeks, and he drained 15 quarts of water from me, some of which I had souped-in to take the place of what was drained. I use what strength I have to put the house in order for the winter, but I tire easily. Also, I have very little appetite and nothing seems to taste as it once did. My arms are still scrawny. I have not been out on the street yet."

In a letter dated April 21, 1956, from Anna Fiesser, 1111 76th Street, North Bergen, N.J., to her daughter, Ruth F. Costantino, 37 Green Street, London, England: Anna wrote about her grandchildren by Ruth and Arturo Costantino, her husband, "I was mighty pleased to receive the photos of the children. Little Arturo looks quite serious. Marie L., I presume, is playing in snow." Anna indicated her hope that Ruth would be able to visit her during the summer. Also, Anna wrote that she had recently had dinner with Eddie Fiesser and Frances his wife with the Speck family for Easter. She noted her poor health, "I am still a shut-in & no doubt will be one for a long time. Something crops up every so often, colds, coughs, infections, and water in abdomen & legs. I get tired very easy and Don't have any ambition. I try to do what I can as I do not just want to sit around idle."

In the final saved letter dated August 22, 1956, from Anna Fiesser, 1111 76th Street, North Bergen, N.J. to her daughter, Ruth F. Costantino, c/o The Fairfax Hotel, 2100 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D.C., stamped "Not At Fairfax Hotel", and forwarded to 53 East 66th Street, New York, N.Y.: Anna wrote about her health condition, "I have another setback. The Dr. says I must have gotten a germ from someone & the infection has started too. I do feel a little better the last day or two. The extra big needles of penicillin probably helped." She added, "So Arthur is going to be sent to Bangkok. I don't think you could get further away from the U.S.A. It must be an interesting country. Will see you I hope before you leave the U.S.A. Love to you & Arthur & Marie L. and Din Din." Anna noted that she had recently been watching the conventions on television and found them very interesting.