Kempen Kids Part 2 (Fanning side)

The second oldest son of Gerdes Kempen & Vedeline Viemeyer is Bernhard Herman Kempen, born December 4, 1866 in Germany. He traveled with his family and arrived on December 5, 1882 in NYC. In 1891, he married Mary Fredericka Rittel (1872-1947) and they resided at 231 East 89 St until they moved to Flatbush, Brooklyn before 1900. Bernhard was a butcher by trade and he and the family lived at 1437 Flatbush Avenue at Farrugut Rd from the late 1800's until he died on December 28, 1915.

Bernhard & Mary had three children:

• Pauline Louise Kempen (1891-1968)
• Alma Kempen (1896-1925)
• Bernhard Herman Kempen Jr. (1898-1981)

Daughter Pauline married William Frederick Seifert (1880 - 1944) on October 30, 1912. William was born in Erbach, Germany & was naturalized as a citizen in 1904. He was a grocer at 812 Grand Ave. in Brooklyn at the time but later is listed as a buyer at a supply company on Flatbush Avenue by 1918, according to his WW1 draft registration card. Pauline was a telephone operator. The 1920 census shows them living at 731 East 26 St, Brooklyn (around the corner from the previous address) and then residing at 2814 Newkirk Ave by 1944 when he had to register for the WW2 draft. Pauline's mother apparently resided with them, too. Pauline & William had a daughter Marie A. Seifert (1915-?)

Daughter Alma is listed in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 census as living with her mother. I have found a death record for her stating she died at 28 years of age. She was not listed in the 1920 census as being employed, so I wonder if she was ill for an extended period of time. She died July 28, 1925.

Son Bernhard Jr. is listed in the 1920 census as a clerk at an insurance agency. On June 2, 1929, he married Florence M. Schenk (1901-2002) in the Bronx. I cannot locate a 1930 census for either of them though, so I do not know if they had any children. In the spring, the 1940 census will be released & may shed more light on their situation. However, Bernhard & Florence did relocate to the Bronx and if my research is correct Florence died at 101 years old & lived at 2181 Starling Ave, Bronx, NY.

Next on the children's list of Kempen kids is Heinrich "Henry" Kempen & I will save our branch of the tree for the next Fanning side post.

The next child that was listed on the ship's manifest coming from Germany was Felix (b.1972-?). Unfortunately, Felix is not listed on any other documents that I have found. So, I must presume he had died prior to 1900. (Most of the 1890 census was destroyed by a fire in Washington DC).

The fifth child of Gerdes & Vendaline is Gerhard George Kempen (1875-?). Listed as a laborer on the 1910 census & residing at 101 W. 104 st in Manhattan. Then residing with the rest of the Kempen clan at 1669 Third Ave by 1918 when he registered for the WW1 draft. Apparently, Gerhard had some problems though. He is listed on the 1920 & 1930 census as a "prisoner" and "patient" at the Central Islip State Mental Hospital. This hospital was opened in 1889 with only 49 male patients who were admitted in 1889 for "O&O" (Occupation and Oxygen) and "R&R" (Rest and Relaxation) at a working farm. Patients cleared the land, constructed buildings, made the furniture and mattresses, sewed their clothing, grew crops and raised dairy cattle, pigs and chickens. It is now an abandoned structure but did house thousands of patients at one point. I have not found a record of Gerhard's death.