Theodore Rudolph Koch (1868 - 1955)

Born 15 Jan 1868 in New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Caroline (Schwartz) Koch — married 29 Oct 1890 in St. Mary Of Sorrows, Buffalo, Erie, New York

Descendants

Died 31 Oct 1955 at age 87 in New York, United States

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Biography

My Grandfather

THEODORE RUDOLPH KOCH

Grandfather Koch was the fourth child of eleven of Guenther Koch and Caroline Schindler. Their last two children were twin girls, Jennie and Lulu. Guenther and Caroline were both born in Saxony (Sachsen), Germany.

Grandpa was born Jan. 15, 1868 at 220 Cherry St. , Buffalo, N. Y. Between 1865 and 1876 Guenther Koch and his family lived at seven different addresses. Apparently every time they had a child they needed more room. They finally moved to their eleventh home at 117 Sweeney St.

I cannot find a christening record for my Grandfather as an infant or a young adult. He claimed to be a Lutheran. Several years before he died he said he was taken into the Lutheran church at Kensington Ave. and Midvale, Buffalo, N. Y.

He was raised in what was called the "Fruit Belt", part of the German section of Buffalo, Cherry, Grape, Orange, Peach, Lemon and Mulberry Sts. When he was a young boy he lived for several years with a relative in the Town of Lancaster near the border of Cheektowaga. The school was named Lancaster-Cheektowaga School District No. 14. It was a one room school constructed about 1863 on the southeast corner of Pleasant View and Transit Rds. This building was torn down about the year 1983. There is a picture of it in the Koch genealogy record book.

The first record I have of his working life is in 1885 when he was 17 years old and worked as a "finisher" at 292 Elm St. He was living with his parents at 47 Sweeney St. at this time. He was married in 1890 and moved to 36 Rich St. At this time he was a "finisher" at Hersee & Co. The next year to be closer to his place of employment they moved to 111 Walthers St. By the year 1897 they moved to 20 Spiess St. Shortly after that he became a house painter and worked for himself. He had his own work cart (picture in album) and weather permitting went to work every day. During this time they moved to 36 Peterson St. where they lived for a long time. They then moved to Purdy St. for several years. About 1923 they moved to 21 Collingwood Ave. He began working nights for L. L. Berger, a department store on Main St. At this store he refinished showcases. He really enjoyed his work whether it was inside or Outside. He had a terrific Work ethic.

Grandpa was a very strict but kind man. He was a little above average height for his generation. Although he understood and spoke German he never had what you would call a German accent. He was an excellent Pinochle player. Grandpa had an uncanny knack for taking the last trick with the ace of trump. He spent many an evening at our house playing three handed Pinochle with Mother and Bill Tryon, a family friend.

Grandpa died of hardening of the arteries Oct. 31, 1955 at the age of 87 years, 9 months and 16 days. He is buried next to Grandma in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cheektowaga, Lot No. 694, Section C.

May he rest in peace.

Signed Edwin T. Evers

Marriage Witnesses : Charles Schwartz and Elizabeth Ignaz. Father A. Bornefeld officiated.

Census: 2 JUN 1900. Buffalo, Erie, New York. ^[1] 16 APR 1910. Buffalo, Erie, New York. ^[2] 1 JUN 1915. Buffalo, Erie, New York. ^[3] 7 JAN 1920. Buffalo, Erie, New York. ^[4] 1 JUN 1925. Buffalo, Erie, New York. ^[5] 2 APR 1930. Buffalo, Erie, New York. ^[6]

Buried ABT 2 NOV 1955. Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga, Erie, New York. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S4254 ED 107, p262, sheet 4a, lines 33-40
2. ↑ Source: #S4187 ED 103, p 277, sheet 2b, lines 72-84
3. ↑ Source: #S3692 Election district 3, ward 15; p 42-43, lines 43-50, line 1-3
4. ↑ Source: #S4188 ED 116, p 65b, sheet 7b lines 49-50 and p66, sheet 8a, lines 1-10
5. ↑ Source: #S3693 Election District 19, ward 20; p 25, lines 18-26
6. ↑ Source: #S4236 ED 206, p 95, sheet 2b, lines 86-91
7. ↑ Source: #S4301 accessed May 28, 2014<, #118007383, contributed by: TVFTH, date: 10/2/2013

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=118007383
• Source: S3692 1915 New York State Census, New York; digital images, www.ancestry.com . Repository: #R142
• Repository: R142 Ancestry.com Provo, UT Provo State: UT Web Address: http://www.ancestry.com
• Source: S3693 1925 New York State Census, New York; digital images, ancestry.com . Repository: #R142
• Source: S4187 1910 United States Census, Erie County, New York Repository: #R111
• Repository: R111 Library of Michigan Lansing, MI 48909-7507 Lansing State: MI 48909-7507 Note: http://www.michigan.gov/hal
• Source: S4188 1920 United States Census, Erie County, New York Repository: #R108
• Repository: R108 Allen County Public Library, Genealogy Collection Fort Wayne, IN Fort Wayne State: IN
• Source: S4236 1930 United States Census, Erie County, New York Repository: #R142
• Source: S4254 1900 United States Census, Erie County, New York Repository: #R108
• Source: S4301 "Find-A-Grave Memorial," online database, Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com).
• 1870 Census, Buffalo, ward 07, New York, United States