Born
20 Dec 1864
Neukirchen, Germany; a small town near Fulda

Died
Between 1910 - 1920

Parents
Polycarp Pappert
Josepha Scheling

Siblings
Kathinka Pappert
Martin Pappert

Spouse
Susanna Catherine Knittel
November 16,1890 in Brooklyn, New York

Children
Katherine Josephine Pappert
Rose Cecilia Pappert
Edward Adolphe Louis Pappert
Alexander Hugo Pappert

Life Story

Valentin Pappert was born December 20, 1864 to Polycarp Pappert and Josepha Scheling in Neukirchen, Germany, a small village in the Hessen region on the river Haune just north of Hunfeld and Fulda. He was named after his godfather, Valentin Osternich from Fulda ,and baptized a week later on December 27th at the Catholic Church in Burghaun. Valentin was confirmed in June 1881, less than a month before he emigrated. He had both an older brother, Martin, and an older sister, Kathinka. His father, an Obergrandam (military policeman), was initially stationed in Neukirchen, but after he retired from that position, he took a job as a District Messenger and moved the family to Fulda where Josepha grew up and close to Dipperz where he was born. Valentin attended high school in Fulda and successfully completed--yet not with high marks-- the "upper school" at the gymnasium, which is the equivalent of two years of college in the U.S. He would have been qualified to go on to university, to seminary school or into government service but instead got permission from his father to emigrate.

Valentin left Germany on July 2, 1881 at the age of 17 and arrived in New York on July 12. It appears he traveled to the United States alone, but his mother's sister, Elizabeth Scheling Manns, who had immigrated to the United States about 10 years earlier, was living in Philadelphia with her husband and children. An immigration record of a Valentin Pappert, age 24 and "American" entered New York from a ship departing Brennen, Germany and Southhampton, England in September 1888. It is uncertain whether this record belongs to Edward.

All documents and letters written to and from him after he arrived refer to him as Edward or "Edie" as Susan's cousin, Hugo Dietzel called him. As with many immigrants he shed his German given name of Valentin, and occasionally used Vincent as a middle name. Edward may have lived with a family friend or distant relative after he arrived as the only possible match for an Edward Pappert in the city directory wasn't until 1888 when an Edward Pappert, "clerk," was listed as living on 806 Sixth Street. However, the city directory lists an Edward Pappert, clerk, in 1891 as living at 218 6th, a different address than what was written on his daughter, Katharine's birth record. The only documents linked to Edward after he left Germany include his marriage certificate, a certificate of citizenship, two immigration/passenger records, and three census records.

Before he married, Edward purportedly was studying or considering to study for the priesthood according to a story told to Dorrie Burian Livoni by her mother and Edward's oldest child, Katherine Pappert Burian. He obviously did not pursue this line of work and instead worked as a clerk at least for the first few years of marriage before eventually becoming a salesman working for J. B. Ryers, Son & Co, an upholstery company according to both the 1900 and 1910 census. In November 1890 he married Susanna (Susan) Catherine Knittel, whose family had immigrated from the Baden region of Germany to New York when Susan was almost 2. A wedding day photo of Susan and Edward along with Susan's younger brother, Alex, and his finance Dollie, is one of only four known photographs remaining of Edward.

Edward and his wife Susan had four children. Their first, Katherine Josephine, was born in September 1891, 10 months after their wedding. Two more children, Rose Cecilia and Edward Adolph Louis were born within the next three years and their last child, Alexander Hugo, was born in April 1897. On October 27, 1893, Edward became a citizen; a copy of his naturalization record is included in the photo gallery.

The 1910 Census is the last known record of Edward. The 1915 New York Census, lists Susan as head of household, and the 1920 Census lists her as widowed. Edward is noticeably missing from a family photograph of Walders, Frieds, Knittels and his family taken around 1910 or 1911. Whether it was the strain of trying to support a family with four children close in age or possibly falling in love with another woman, the marriage between Edward and Susanna apparently faltered, and he may have left the home on several occasions before moving out for good after the 1910 census was taken. There are no personal stories or recollections passed on about Edward because he became persona non grata when he left his family. A copy of a letter sent to Edward from Susan's cousin, and Edward's friend, Hugo Dietzel, suggests that their marriage may have been in trouble as early as late 1899 or 1900. Hugo's letter dated October 11, 1900 reads:

Dear Edie and Susie,

I have some doubt as to whether this letter will reach your address because I have already sent an earlier letter here and have received no answer, so I am afraid this one will remain unanswered also. All of us, myself included of course, want to know how things are with you--good, I hope.

Many things could have happened during the past year when I have not heard from you, for instance to you or to your family. I have often determined to come there but there is never enough time. I had time for some small trips last year so I visited England, France and Italy, yet 4 weeks was not enough time to visit America. Yet what shall be, shall be, and I hope you might come to Germany and stay with us in Hannover.

Here in Hannover things go pretty much as we would wish. I don't like to complain,. Everyone is in good health.

I will close now. Hopefully this letter will arrive at your address and we will receive a sign of life from New York.

With heartfelt greetings to all of you, Hugo Dietzel

Edward's oldest daughter, Katherine, told her daughter Dorrie Burian Livoni that she remembers seeing or thinking she saw her father watching and following her and her siblings from a distance; however, after he had moved out, Dorrie thought that her mother never saw him again. Another granddaughter, Rose Marguerite Pappert Rumoshosky, told her daughter that she recalled hearing that Edward left Susan to live with another woman who had two young daughters. A search of city directories in New York and surround states, the 1915 New York Census ,the New York death index and calls to both Catholic and nonsectarian cemeteries did not turn up any record of Edward. A search of travel records and death records in Germany also did not turn up anything. Copies of Susan and Edward's marriage certificate and Rose Cecilia's baptism records, both dated March of 1917, may indicate that Susan needed these documents as proof that she and her children were heirs to Edward, but this is only a guess. Where he lived when he moved out and when and how he died remains a mystery.

Seeking Information

What happened to Edward after he left his wife, Susan?

Facts

Photo Gallery

	November 16, 1890

Updated 9/20/14