Frederick L. Schmersahl Explained

Frederick L. Schmersahl
Birth Date:1826
Birth Place:Bremen, Germany
Residence:Hoboken, New Jersey, United States
Office:Mayor of Hoboken
Order:11th
Term Start:April 1871
Term End:April 1873
Predecessor:Hazen Kimball
Successor:Peter McGavisk
Spouse:Ellen C. (1829–1884)

Frederick L. Schmersahl (January 1825 – about 1905) was a German-American merchant and politician who served two terms as the eleventh mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, from 1871 to 1873.[1]

Biography

Schmersahl was born in January 1825 in Bremen, Germany. He migrated from Germany to New Jersey in 1845. By 1900 he was living in Weehawken, New Jersey.[2]

He was a partner, along with Louis Wittpenn, in a liquor and wine wholesale business in New York City.[3] He served on the Hoboken City Council in 1866.[4] Schmersahl was rejected by the Hoboken Democratic convention as a candidate for mayor in 1871, but was reported to run independently.[5] He was elected as a Republican in 1871. He raised money for the relief of victims of the Great Chicago Fire.[6] He was re-elected as the candidate of both parties in 1872.[7] Schmersahl ran as an independent candidate in 1873 and was defeated by Democrat Peter McGavisk.[8]

In 1889 he took out an advertisement for a wife and met Clara Theinhardt. She was 30 and he was 63. He made a formal marriage proposal and she accepted. He backed out of the engagement and she sued for breach of promise for $10,000. They settled for an undisclosed amount before trial.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Winfield, Charles . 1874 . Kennard & Hay Stationery M'fg and Print. Co . New York, NY . History of the County of Hudson, New Jersey: from its earliest settlement to the present time . 319.
  2. 1880 and 1900 US census for New Jersey
  3. News: The New York Times . November 23, 1871 . The Charge Against the Mayor of Hoboken . January 11, 2011.
  4. Book: Costa, Isaac . Gopsill's Jersey City and Hoboken directory for the year ending 30th April, 1867 . Gopsill . 1866 . 428 . January 11, 2011.
  5. News: The New York Times . April 5, 1971 . Hoboken Democratic Convention – Nominations for City Officers . January 11, 2011.
  6. Web site: Letter from Mayor F. L. Schmersahl to Hoboken City Council, Oct. 10, 1871 re the Chicago fire & setting up a victims benefit fund. . October 10, 1871 . 2015-02-17 . When as the sad news has been spread over the Country, that, a large portion of the great City of the West, the City of Chicago, has been visited by one of the most terrible conflagrations on record .
  7. News: . April 10, 1872 . Jersey City and Hoboken elections . In Hoboken Mayor Schmersahl was the candidate of both parties for re-election and had no opposition. He ran last year on the Republican ticket, but was this year first nominated by the Democrats and afterward by the Republicans, who claim him as his candidate. ... . January 11, 2011.
  8. News: The New York Times . April 10, 1873 . New-Jersey Elections; Returns for Jersey City, Hoboken, New-Brunswick and other Towns . January 11, 2011.
  9. News: The Widow's Lament. Suing An Unwilling Widower for Breach of Promise . Frederick L. Schmersahl is a wholesale liquor dealer living in Hoboken. Clara Theinhardt of 143 West Forty-third-street, this city, has sued him in the Supreme Court for a breach of promise of marriage, laying the damages at $10,000. .... . April 8, 1888 . 2015-02-17 .
  10. News: Money Heals a Lacerated Heart. Ex-Mayor Fredrick Schmersahl of Hoboken advertised for a wife some time ago, and among the responses received was one from Mrs. Clara Theinhardt. . . February 24, 1889 . 2015-02-17 .

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