Great find from Kevin Weppler- Alfred Kierschner Sr.'s obituary. It was news to learn that he died at 33 E. Highland Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ, and that he had spent most of his childhood in Vienna!

Announcing the completion of a new film:

Heritage, The Story of Our Family Appendix-Germany 2017

In September of 2017, several members of our family visited sites in Germany to experience locations associated with our ancestry. This 25 minute film adds context and detail to the original film, and even raises some new questions! 

Click HERE to see the film!

Gothic House Museum in Bad Hombug Prepares to Celebrate J.F. Voigt's 225th Birthday

In this image of a pending brochure, the museum is preparing an exhibition and events centered on Voigt's work as a royal portrait painter in Bad Homburg starting in 1829. Note some of the art featured in the piece from the museum and others in Germany.

Exciting New Archival Find!!!

Thanks to Tim and Claudia Ryan of Arizona, USA, a 24 page photo album of the Elbelt family was recently delivered back to our family! Amazingly, the Ryan's, with family in Germany, had been attending yard sales and flea markets in the Frankfurt area back in the 1990's when they came across an interesting find- this leather bound photo keepsake book. They brought the book back to the U.S. where it was stored until 2017. Since some of the photos were labeled, the Ryan's were able to search the internet and came across this website! Contact was made the with deep kindness they Ryan's returned to book to our family, for all of us to enjoy! 

These photos were mostly the work of Thomas Voigt, at his studio in Bad Homburg. We have similar photos form this period, but most of these are new to us. It's clear that Thomas spent a lot of time shooting his nieces, Julie and Greta Elbelt. The book also raises some new questions- the appearance of a Louis Elbelt, as well as photos of Carl Kausel with Julie. The labeling seems to have been done much later than the photos, as they are in ball point pen, and refer to Julie as "Oma" which would mean a grandson wrote them. She had only 3 grandsons- the 3 Kausel boys. Could it be that Harvey Kausel owned this book while the Army in Germany in WWII?  

Scroll to see the entire gallery

Thanks to David Mankin for finding this outstanding recording from 1939! Imaging a 35 year old Bert, with a 9 year old son at home, playing into a mic in a studio in Manhattan.....

Continued thanks to Kevin Weppler for sharing this newly found death certificate for Julia Elbelt Kausel (Zeller). We previously had her year of death as 1921, but as you can see, it actually was 1927. She was 68 years old, and living in Camden, NJ at the time. Apparently she was hospitalized across the river in Philadelphia where she died March 27, 1927. The cause of death was listed as "Pyelitia" which appears to mean some sort of infection of the spinal cord. A secondary cause is listed a arteriosclerosis, or basically heart disease. 

The residence is listed as Browning Rd, Merchantville, which would be in addition to an earlier residence on Baird Blvd, nearby.  Place of burial is listed as "Haleigh" which is still located off Haddon Ave. in Camden, NJ. 

Click here to view the 1962 NY Philharmonic Young People's Concert, featuring Bert Brenner on Oboe. He is featured at the 9:50 mark in this clip. Click photo to watch!

Photos From Barrancas National Cemetery

Pensacola, Florida

Gravesite of Theodore E. Brenner (1930-2007) and sons Theodore Jr, Michael, Mark

Amazing Contact From Europe! Kausel History Revealed!

This website is now searchable in Google and via other methods, and this week we were contacted by  Till Mößner ‚of Furth, Central Franconia, Germany. He is a decedent of the Kauselt family, who later changed the name to Kausel. This family includes Karl Kausel, who married Julie Elbelt in Buffalo in 1883. Till has researched the Kauselt family back as far as 1433 (!) which is frankly , STUNNING! See the links below for more details....

More Brenner Family Revealed!

Thanks to a recent connection with Debbie Dretel Lawrence , Grand Daughter of Sadie Brenner Roth, we have been able to add a great deal of detail from the Brenner/Roth family. We welcome those from this part of our family tree and hope you enjoy the website! Check back often for constantly updated photos and information...

Click Chart to enlarge

What do you call each other?

Relationship Terms Sometimes, especially when working on your family history, it's handy to know how to describe your family relationships more exactly. The definitions below should help you out.

Cousin (a.k.a "first cousin") Your first cousins are the people in your family who have two of the same grandparents as you. In other words, they are the children of your aunts and uncles.

Second Cousin Your second cousins are the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you., but not the same grandparents.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Cousins Your third cousins have the same great-great-grandparents, fourth cousins have the same great-great-great-grandparents, and so on.

Removed When the word "removed" is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents), so the word "removed" is not used to describe your relationship. The words "once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. This is because your mother's first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals "once removed." Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother's first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.

One for the Finns! 

Click the lower right arrows to expand video window

Circa 1964-65, possibly Thanksgiving, Paul Finn Sr. horses around with Beth "Bird" Brenner, Bill Finn, and Paul Finn Jr. in the back yard at 5 Tyson Lane, Rumson, NJ

THIS JUST IN.......information about Adolph Brenner's life and parents! 

Adolph L. Brenner of Bronx, NY 1884 - 1946   Death Surnames: Brenner, Reiss, Beckert ADOLPH L. BRENNER, age 61, died on April 23, 1946, at Saint Francis Hospital, Bronx County, New York. He was born circa 1884 in Vienna, Austria, the son of Morris Brenner and Mildred Reiss. He was a resident of Bronx, NY, and was survived by his wife, Martha C. Beckert Brenner. He was the Vice President of the Upholsterers Association of Greater New York. Also survived by his son, Engelbert Franz Joseph Brenner. Burial on April 27, 1946, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY. Informant - Mr. Engelbert Brenner.

WILLIAM BRENNER, age 53, died on April 2, 1936, at his home in Manhattan, New York County, New York. He was born circa 1883, in Austria, the son of Morris Brenner and Mildred "Mollie" Reiss. Both parents were also natives of Austria. He was a hub maker and had been a resident of the USA and NYC for 28 years. Survived by his wife, Agnes ? Brenner. Place of death and usual residence - 304 E. 91st Street. Burial on April 3, 1936, at King Solomon Cemetery, Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey. (Manhattan, NY, Death Certificate #8704)

JULIUS BRENNER, age 54-04-27, died on November 5, 1944, at Montefiore Hospital, Bronx County, New York. He was born on June 9, 1890, in Austria, the son of Morris Brenner and Mildred Reiss. Both parents were also natives of Austria. He was the manager of an butter & eggs business and had been a resident of NYC for 5 years. Survived by his wife, Lottie ? Brenner. Usual residence - 984 Simpson Street, Bronx, NY. Burial on November 7, 1944, at King Solomon Cemetery, Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey. Informant - Mrs. Lottie Brenner. (Bronx, NY, Death Certificate #10806)