I hope to alternate every week with entries from opposing sides of the family tree. This week I am back to the Fanning side and will continue along the Kempen branch.
Henry "Henny" Kempen (1897- 1969) was my great-great grandfather. He was married to Marion Scully Kempen (1898-1971). I haven't been able to find the date they were married but I reason that it was either late 1920 or early 1921. Marion is not listed with Henny on the 1920 census. My grandmother, Veronica Kempen (1921-1989), was born in November 1921 and they are all listed in the 1930 census residing at 1667 Third Ave, East 93 to 94 St.
Born May 6, 1897, the first reference I have found for Henny was in the 1900 census. He lived at the 1669 Third Ave address as the oldest child with his parents Heinrich "Henry" Kempen (1869 - ?) and Anne Dertinger Kempen (1876 - ?) along with sister Catherine Kempen (1899 - ?). Heinrich was employed as a conductor with the surface railroad (subways had not been completed yet).
Also living in this building was Heinrich's brother, Folkert (1864-?), and his family: wife, Emma Kuhne (1866-?), daughter Margaret Kempen (1894-1975), and son, George Kempen (1896-1963). Their son William hadn't been born yet, who was the father of George R. Kempen (1938-1976). George was the Nassau Co. Police officer who was killed. Also listed in this census was 15 year-old Minnie Kuhne (1885-?) who may have been the cousin or sister of Emma.
The family affair at 1669 3rd Ave continues with Anne Dertinger Kempen's sister, Mary Catherine Dertinger Gaukel (1881-?) residing there, too. She was married to Charles Gaukel (1875-1942). They did not have children at this point but they did live with Catherine "Kate" Lyons Dertinger (1843-?), mother of Annie & Mary Catherine. Annie & Mary Catherine were both born in New York City. Momma Kate was born in Ireland and immigrated to the US somewhere around 1860. The various census dates are conflicting. Charles Gaukel was a butcher and immigrated to the US in 1890 from Germany with his parents. I know it gets confusing... a view of the family tree while reading this will help you follow along.
Henry Kempen lived at this building for many years. The 1930 census shows he was living here with Marion & Veronica. They were paying $29.00 a month rent and was employed at a brewery as an electrician. The rest of the extended family had moved to Astoria, Queens by 1930.
I had heard some stories about Henny over the years, none of which were favorable. He had abandoned his wife and daughter at some point and moved out to Suffolk County. Social Security death records show he died January 20, 1969 in Hampton Bays and is buried at National Cemetery in Farmingdale, LI. I have not found any evidence that he ever remarried but family lore is that he spent his later years with a women named Consuela. He has always been rumored to have been a bit of a con artist.
I did not know that he served in the US Army as a "wagoneer" during the end of WW 1 in France. Dennis Fanning provided me with a photo of him when he was overseas. He is the one holding the wine bottle!
I have not been able to find much about Marion Scully's family. She was born August 29, 1898 in New Jersey to Michael H. Scully (1866-1908) and Annie O'Neill Scully (1873-?). Census reports show he was born in NJ and Annie immigrated from Northern Ireland 1893. They married 1897 in NJ I presume, since Marion was born in NJ. In 1900 they lived at 109 West 46 St, NYC and Michael was employed as a masseuse. After Michael died in 1908, Annie & Marion had moved to 340 East 49 St and was employed as a restaurant cook by 1910. She also had her nephew, John O'Neill, living with them at the time. The 1920 census lists Annie as a 'laundry ironer' and they lived at 223 East 53 St. I have not discovered when she died.
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