Monday, February 22, 2016

Charles W. Nitterauer (1854-1902) - Week 5

Skipping Week 4 due to travel, I'm now on to Week 5 and this week I've been looking at a third great-grand uncle of mine, Charles W. Nitterauer.

Charles W. Nitterauer - Taken from "Golden Jubilee - Ancient Landmark Lodge No.5 A.F. & A.M. 1854-1904"


Charles W. Nitterauer was born on March 11, 1854 in Dubuque, Iowa to his father Charles Nitterauer and his mother Maria Nitterauer (nee: Eschbach).  Charles was one of seven kids born to his parents his other brothers and sisters were:

  1. Marietta Brandt (nee: Nitterauer) - b: October 1841 d: January 10, 1914.
  2. David D. Nitterauer - b: Sept 1844 d: after 1919
  3. John Samuel Nitterauer - b: June 13, 1847 d: January 24, 1926
  4. Margaret B. Rinehart (nee: Nitterauer) - b: March 11, 1849 d: January 1, 1935
  5. Thomas Edward Nitterauer - b: December 15, 1857 d: April 3, 1938
  6. Eva Jane Jordan (nee: Nitterauer) - b: July 4, 1863 d: June 17, 1905
Charles first appearance is in the 1860 Census of the United States in Dubuque, Iowa where he's only 6 years old and living at home with his parents a few of his siblings.

By the 1870 Census of the United States he's 16 years old and still living at home with the family, and doesn't appear to have any job at that time.

According to records from Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5 in St. Paul, Minnesota, when Charles was 18, he worked for the shop Hodge, Whitelow and Jones where he learned the trade of brass finishing.

Farley & Hatfield moved their brass foundry to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1878 and Charles and his brother Thomas came with them.

W. F. Bailey and C. N. Parker bought out Farley & Hatfield, bringing Charles on board with them to be their foreman, his brother retaining his job as a brass finisher. The new business became known as the St. Paul Brass Works, originally located on the corner of Eighth and Minnesota in St. Paul.

In the 1880 Census of the United States Charles shows up in St. Paul with his brother Thomas where he's working for William F. Bailey as a brass finisher.  Mr. Bailey would end up being integral and a huge part of Charles career.

On November 22, 1882 Charles married his wife Delia M. Nitterauer (nee: Murray) in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Charles and Delia never had any children.

From about 1883 until 1885 Charles lived at 463 Robert Street in St. Paul while he continued working as a foreman for W. F. Bailey & Company.  His brother Thomas also lived nearby and sometimes with him still working at W.F. Bailey & Company as a brass finisher.

On April 8, 1886, Charles became a Master Mason of the Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5 in St. Paul, Minnesota, holding various office until becoming elected Worshipful Master, June 23, 1892.  William F. Bailey and C. N. Parker, the ones who hired Charles on were also fellow Brothers with in the Lodge.

Around 1886 Charles moved to 433 West 7th Street in St. Paul and in 1888 he became partners with William F. Bailey and C.N. Parker in the St. Paul Brass Works.

May 1893, William F. Bailey moved the St. Paul Brass Works to Duluth, Minnesota which then became the Duluth Brass Works where upon Charles was appointed superintendent.  At the time of Charles' move to Duluth with the company he had taken the Royal Arch degree in Minnesota Chapter No. 1 and held the office of King.  He was also created a Knight Templar in Damascus Commandery No. 1.


Duluth Brass Works - 1927

When in Duluth, Charles was a prominent member of society, becoming the president of the West Duluth Republican club and can be found in some of the newspapers of the time holding various meetings from time to time.

It is no doubt Charles was a smart and talented engineer; on August 6, 1901 Charles was granted US Patent No. 680,167 for an Engine Lathe.


In March 1901, Charles was elected president of the Board of Fire Commissioners in Duluth for a term of three years.


Charles wife Delia died on May 22, 1902 of erysipelas. Her remains were returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to be buried near family.

Charles died on November 15, 1902 at the young age of 48. At the time of death Charles was High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter of West Duluth. Charles had been severely ill for months after the death of his wife Delia, and he ended up dying of spinal meningitis. His passing made the front page of the Duluth News Tribune on November 16, 1902 due to his prominence in the community including being president of the West Duluth Republican Club and a prominent Mason.

After this death, Charles' share in the Duluth Brass Works was bought out by his former partner William F. Bailey. He was said to have been buried at Oneota Cemetery but he doesn't appear in any of their records.

Relation to Charles W. Nitterauer

Charles W. Nitterauer - Main Person
Margaret B. Rinehart (nee: Nitterauer) - Charle's sister, my 3x great-grandmother
Adelia Estella White/Gelderd (nee: Rinehart) - Margaret's daughter, my 2x great-grandmother
Lola Margaret Levine (nee: White) - Adelia's daughter, my great-grandmother
Living Anderson (nee: Levine) - Lola's daughter, my grandmother
Living Hutchinson (nee: Anderson) - Living Anderson's daughter, my mom

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