Florence Emily Underwood, arrived NY 1907

[peterbaker]

I have a great aunt, Florence Emily Underwood, born 1887 Kensington, London who arrived in New York on 18 March 1907 on board the St Louis from Southampton. The passenger list states that she was intending to stay with her aunt Mrs S Callen of 335 or 2335 First Avenue, New York. I assume she stayed in US as I cannot find any further trace of her in the UK.
Would anyone be able to find out any more about Florence in NY please?
Many thanks  ..  Peter Baker

[shellyesq]

There is a bride's index for New York City at www.italiangen.org.  There are 6 entries for women named Florence Underwood from 1907-1948.  One has the middle initial E, and 4 of them have no middle initial listed, so, assuming that she stayed in NYC & married, there are a number of possibilities. 

The one with the middle initial E married a Nicholas F. Dreschler.  I found a widowed Nicholas Dreschler in the 1920 census.  Nicholas (age 32, b. Germany, immigrated 1897) was living with 2 of his brothers and other family members.  There was a Frederick Phillip Dreschler, age 7 and born New York, who was listed as a nephew of the head of the household (one of Nicholas's brothers).  Frederick's mother was listed as born in England, so that would fit if Florence was his mother.

There is also a death index at www.italiangen.org, but I didn't see a Florence Dreschler listed.

[shellyesq]

On the 1910 Census, the same Nicholas Dreschler appears to be living with his mother & brothers at 201 East 110th Street, which is about 10 blocks away from the 2335 First Avenue address.  Just speculating here, but maybe that would be how they met?

A WWI Draft Registration card that seems to fit this Nicholas Dreschler has him living in Bronx, New York and he is noted to have a wife & 2 children. 

[shellyesq]

I may be going off on an utter tangent here, but maybe I found something.

On the 1910 Census, there's a Louise Callen, age 53, widowed, born England, immigrated 1873, and living in Manhattan.  Living with her is her son Samuel (age 17, b. New York) and a son-in-law, daughter Margaret, and 2 grandsons.  The son-in-law's name is Joseph and the surname has been transcribed as Dreassble, but on the image, it looks to me like it might be Dreschler.  Joseph was age 32, born in Germany, and immigrated in 1890. 

Might the aunt on the passenger list be L. Callen and maybe this Joseph is a brother or cousin of Nicholas Dreschler?  The 1900 Census seems to have Louise married to a Samuel, so perhaps the S was short for Samuel.

[shellyesq]

I found a New York Times death notice for Samuel Callen, husband of Louisa (nee Underwood), who died 27 Mar. 1910.  
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00712F83A5D16738DDDA90B94DB405B808DF1D3

The 1910 Census was done on April 15th, so that would fit with Louise being a widow then.

[shellyesq]

The 1905 New York State Census has Samuel & Louise Callan living at 2335 1st Ave. 
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-159385-39451-18?cc=1463113

[peterbaker]

Wow!!
I've just returned from a brisk walk round our local park to find the results of your research. AMAZING!!
Many many thanks for your help.
I need to catch my breath and assimilate the info now.
Regards ..  Peter

[shellyesq]

You're welcome!  I thought I may have been barking up the wrong tree, but luckily it seems to have paid off.

On the death index on the italiangen site, there is a death record for Emily Drechsler who died in the Bronx on 26 Oct. 1918 at age 30.  Perhaps that's Florence?

[shellyesq]

It looks like Nicholas subsequently remarried.  His WWII Draft Registration Card - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12116-32973-69?cc=1861144 - lists a stepson named Milo Bauer.  The index at Italiangen has Nicholas Drechsler & Lena Bauer marrying in Manhattan on 25 Aug. 1934.

Milo, age 8, appears to be in the 1930 Census in Manhattan with parents Emile & Lena.  There is a Milo K. Bauer on the Social Security death index born 5 Dec. 1922, died 10 Aug. 1985, last residence Oakland, New Jersey, Social Sec. number issued in New York before 1951.  There's a 1925 passenger list for Meilo Kurt Bauer of that age with parents Lina and Emile.  I figured that line was worth checking on in case any descendants out there in cyberspace know more about this branch.