The Zeissers, the Lyons, Lafayette Farr & the Downing Connection
~ 1860 - 1870 ~
Matilda Zeisser, my great-grandmother, (mother of Mary Elizabeth Lyons-Farr, Mame) was born in New York in March of 1860. She was the daughter of George and Mary Zeisser. George Zeisser, a laborer, was born in Baden, Germany in 1817. Mary, wife and home-maker, was born in France in 1827. By 1870 George and Mary were living at 1361 New Lots; an area of an expanding Brooklyn that included Hemlock Street. At that time they had seven children.
George Zeisser Jr. (17), born in New York, was an apprentice stone cutter.
Young Mary (15), Emma (12), and Matilda (11), all born in New York, lived at home and attended school.
William (10), Rose (8), and August (5), were born in New Lots.
~ 1880 ~
By 1880 George Zeisser Jr. married Anna. He was no longer an apprentice and now classified as a marble cutter. Anna, born around 1853 in Ireland, immigrated to the United States in 1865. Her parents were both Irish. Anna is the aunt and sponsor (God-parent) of Mame in her baptismal ceremony in 1882 (see below). George and Anna lived at 21 Liberty Avenue in New Lots.
About 1881 Matilda, now 21, married Thomas Lyons, a printer. They had two daughters; Mary Elizabeth (b: Sep 1882), also know as “Mame” and Emma A. Lyons (b: Sep 1884).
By 1890 Thomas Lyons was deceased. Matilda met and married Lafayette Farr 52, in 1890. He was twelve years her senior and employed as a machinist. Lafayette was born in New York. His parents were born in England.
~ 1900 ~
By 1900 Matilda had given birth to six children. Four were still living, including Mame and Emma by her first marriage and Lafayette (the younger) and Eugene Farr by her second. Mame and Emma took the name of their step-father. They all lived together at 186 Johnson Street, a rented house in Brooklyn.
In 1900 Emma, Lafayette and Eugene attended school. Mame 17, lived at home. Within two years she would be married to Frank Max Grossmann and start her own family.
By 1900 Anna (“Annie”) Zeisser, wife of George Jr, was widowed and living at University Place in Queens with her children. William 19, (b: Aug 1880 - NY)) was a day laborer. Daughter Clara A. Zeisser 17, (b: Oct 1882-NY) and Lizzie Zeisser 15, (b: Sept 1884-NY) were also day laborers supporting the household. Rosetta Zeisser 13, (b: August 1886-NY) attended school.
~ 1910 ~
By 1910 Matilda had lost her husband, and son Lafayette. She still lived in the same house on Johnson Street, with her remaining son Eugene. Eugene, now 17, was employed as an office boy for an iron works company. She took in two boarders, John Wadsworth 60, and Joseph Vairk a 45 year old German immigrant, to supplement her income.
In 1904 Emma Lyons-Farr married Thomas J. Downing. He was born in 1880 in Ireland, immigrated to the US in 1888 and became a naturalized citizen in 1895. Thomas, nine years her senior, was a butcher in a store in Brooklyn. Daughter Helen J. was born in 1906 and son John J “Jack” Downing was born in 1907. They rented a house at 175 Park Avenue in Brooklyn.
~ 1920 ~
By 1920 Thomas moved his family to 65 Ridgewood Avenue, Woodhaven in Queens where he paid on a mortgage to own the house. He was now working as a private body guard. He and Emma had another child, Thomas J. Downing Jr. (b: 1917). Also living with them was Emma’s widowed mother Matilda 60, and step-brother Eugene, 26, a veteran of WWII and recipient of the Purple Heart. Eugene was employed as a laborer in a shop.
Mary Elizabeth Lyons Farr Grossmann
September 14, 1882 - May 15, 1961
Mary Elizabeth "Mame" Lyons-Farr Grossmann a housewife, was the daughter of Thomas Lyons and Matilda Zeisser. She took the name of her mother's second husband, Lafayette Farr, after the death of her father.
Above left: My mother at the front of 37 Hemlock Street with my grandmother, "Mame"
Above center: My father enjoys a happy moment together with his mother in Brooklyn.
Above right: Taken as my grandmother made her way to the house.
Above left: My grandmother, Mame enjoying quiet time in the backyard with a grandchild resting nearby in a baby carriage.
Above center: Mame enjoying coffee and a good time at my brother Charles' birthday party June 11, 1950.
Above right: Mame on the front steps of her home with daughter Marie and grandson Richard Erdmann.
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