Monday, September 9, 2019

The Dorns of Upstate New York


Today I was contacted by someone researching the Dorns of Utica, New York. He'd found my earlier blog of four years ago - smile - and asked, "Where's the follow-up?" A good question since I had mentioned that in one of the blogs. Since this family isn't closely connected with my Emma (Nunn) Dorn, I didn't research further. I pulled out my Dorn file and found that I had developed this document. I hope it is helpful. 

~ The Dorns of Upstate New York ~

On October 13, 1879 Conrad and Maria (Schuck) Dorn arrived at the port of New York with their children: Adam, Ann, Nicolas, John, and Josephine.  The family traveled from Germany through Liverpool, England to New York City on the ship City of Montreal.  The ship was built by Tod & McGregor, Glasgow, Scotland. It had three masts and one funnel. At the time of their journey, Conrad was 37; Maria was 35.  They were married in 1868.

The family traveled to Utica, New York where they resided in 1880. Conrad found works in a lumberyard. He states in this census that he is from “Biern” (Bayern), Germany.  Why did this family immediately head to Utica, New York? In 1880 there were seven Dorn families in Utica. There is a good chance they were relatives. One was a carpenter, who may have helped Conrad get his job in the lumberyard.

Conrad finds work at the Empire Woolen Mills in Clayville, about ten miles south of Utica. He then his hired by the Globe Woolen Mills in Utica where he enjoyed long time employment as a weaver of fine woolens. 

Descendants of Conrad Dorn (b: July 1842) and Maria (Schuck) Dorn b: abt 1844[1]
Adam Dorn b: abt 1869 m: Margaret Lutz
Anna K. Dorn b: abt 1872 m: John L. Rifer
Nicholas Dorn b: abt 1874; d: 1952
John A. Dorn b: abt 1876
Josephine Dorn b: abt 1878; d: 9 April 1970 m: John Wenzel

About 1894 Adam Dorn married Margaret Lutz.  Adam worked as a woolen weaver, and they lived at 31 Saratoga Street, Utica, New York. In their household also lived Margaret’s sister, Sabina Lutz, age 24 (b: Oct 1875) in Germany. Sabina worked as a cotton weaver.

Anna K. Dorn and John L. Rifer were married May 1896. “At St. Joseph’s Church, Tuesday, John L. Rifer and Miss Anna K. Dorn were married by Rev. Clement Lutz. Nicholas Dorn was best man and Miss Maggie Rifer was bridesmaid. A reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents, 31 Saratoga Street. Mr. and Mrs. Rifer will live at 90 Bristol Street.” [Utica Sunday Journal, May 24, 1896, p. 7, col. 1]

On 15 January 1897, Josephine Dorn married John L. Wenzel in St. Joseph’s Church.  John was the son of Louis and Mary (Werthmann) Wenzel.  John’s sister was Sophie (Wenzel) Hartmann. John L. Wenzel was born 5 September 1877; he died 18 June 1956 and is buried with his wife, Josephine Dorn Wenzel, in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. [Findagrave.com]

In 1900 the family continued to reside in Utica, City Ward 9. The family consisted of son John A. Dorn, 25, born in Germany, and Conrad’s mother-in-law Maria Schuck, 89, born in Germany.

~ Maria Schuck Obituary ~

“ Mrs. Mary Eva Schuck, who died December 9, 1900 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Conrad Dorn, 31 Saratoga Street, was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 22, 1811, and came to America 18 years ago, locating in Utica. She was the wido of John Adam Schuck, who died 24 years ago. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Henry Hillenbrand, and Mrs. Conrad Dorn of this city, and Mrs. Nicholas Ebert of Abernau, Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, and leave also two step brothers, John and Bartholomew Schuck of Utica, thirty-four grandchildren and forty-eight great-grandchildren. Mrs. Schuck was a member of St. Joseph’s Church and the League of the Sacred Heart and the Scapular Society established in that congregation.”  [Utica Sunday Journal, December 16, 1900, col. 2]

Maria (Schuck) Dorn died in 1927 and is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Yorkville, Oneida County, New York. 

~ Conrad Dorn Obituary ~

“Conrad Dorn Died Early Yesterday – Was for many years employed as weaver at Globe Woolen Mill. Conrad Dorn, a well known German resident of this city, died at his home, 31 Saratoga Street, early yesterday morning. Mr. Dorn suffered a stroke of paralysis a week ago and since that time he had been confined to his bed. Mr. Dorn was born at Obernau, near Ashuffenburg, Bavaria, July 4, 1842. He came to this country in 1879, locating in this city. In 1881 he went to Clayville where he worked for the Empire Woolen Company. He returned to this city in 1885 and entered the employ of the Globe Woolen Company as a weaver and continued with that company for 22 years. He was a skillful workman and was highly esteemed by his employers.  Mr. Dorn was married August 13, 1867 in Germany to Miss Mary Schuck, who survives him. He also leaves three sons and two daughters, J. Adam and Nicholas Dorn of this city, John A Dorn of Schenectady, Mrs. John L. Rifer (Ann) of The Dallas, Oregon and Mrs. John Wenzel of Utica. He also leaves a sister in Germany and 12 grandchildren. Mr. Dorn was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, the C.M.B.A. Branch; the Bavarian Sick Aid Society, the Roman Catholic Sick Aid Society, the Deutsche Bruder and he was an honorary member of the Maximillan Section of the Bavarian National Verband. [Utica, New York Dispatch, Monday Evening, September 2, 1907, p. 3, col 2 with photo]


Descendants of Adam Dorn (b: abt 1869; d: 1917) and Margaret (Lutz) Dorn (b: abt 1873; d: 1929)[2]
John C. Dorn b: 1896
Margaret Dorn b: 1900
Albert John Dorn b: 1901
William A. Dorn b: 1905
Henry F. Dorn 1906
Herbert W. Dorn b: 1909-1950 m: Ruth E. Bruzeau in 1938
Clara Dorn b: 1912
Rose M. Dorn b: 1914
Andrew Dorn b: 1918

~ Obituaries for John Adam Dorn ~

“Died Suddenly – John A. Dorn suffered attack of Heart Disease – John Adam Dorn, 48 yeas of age, collapsed at Layfayette and Washington Streets at 9 o’clock last evening. Mr. Dorn, who resides at 100 Stark Street, was returning from the office of a physician when he suffered an attack of heart failure. The police automobile was called, but Mr. Dorn died while on the way to the General Hospital. Coroner Dennis L. Creedon was called on the case and pronounced death due to heart disease. Mr. Dorn had suffered from this malady for some time, the disease becoming worse during the last three weeks. He was employed as pattern maker at the Globe Woolen Mill where he had been for 25 years. Mr. Dorn was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 13, 1869, son of Mary and the late Conrad Dorn. He came to America in 1879 and had since resided in Utica, excepting four years spent in Clayville. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church and the Holy Name Society, also Utica Lodge No 450, Loyal Order of Moose; the Bavarian Sick Aid Society, the Roman Catholic Society and Maximillan Section No. 1, Bavarian National Verband of North America. He was married September 12, 1893 to Margaret Lutz, who survives with his mother; eight children, John, Margaret, Elbert, William, Henry, Herbert, Clara and Rose; two brothers, Nicholas Dorn of this city and John Anthony Dorn of Pittsfield, MA, and two sisters, Mrs. J.L. Rifer of Portland, Oregon, and Mrs. John. L. Wenzel of this city.”  [Utica Herald Dispatch, Wednesday Evening, May 23, 1917, p. 3, col 2]


“The funeral of John Adam Dorn was held this morning at 9 o’clock at the residence, 1100 Stark Street and at 9:30 from St. Joseph’s Church where Rev. Edward Borkhardt celebrated a requiem high mass. Professor Thomas Ryan was at the organ and the junior choir sang. Among the floral tributes were an anchor from friends of Mill No. 2 of Utica Knit; wreath from the office of the Globe Woolen Mill.  The bearers were Henry Hillenbrand, Fred Hillenbrand, Henry Lynbenlist (?), and Alois Henitz. Interment was in the family plot, St. Joseph’s Cemetery.”  [The Utica Observer, Friday, May 25, 1917, p 16 col 3]

Descendants of Albert John Dorn, Sr. (1901-1976) and Lois Mary (Brown) Dorn (1919-1995)                                                                                                                                                    
Conrad Dorn
Dennis Dorn (Jeannette)
Christopher Dorn (Margie)
Matthew Dorn (Kathy)
Albert John, Jr.  Dorn (Larraine DeAngelis) 15 Dec 1945 – 17 Feb 2012
Susanne Dorn (Burkhart)

Private Albert John Dorn, Jr. married Miss Beverly Barringer at St. Joseph’s Church on Saturday, July 24, 1965.  She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Barringer of Richfield Springs.  Dennis Dorn was best man. Ushers were Paul Atchley, Frank Combs and Conrad Dorn.  [Richfield Springs NY Mercury, Thursday, July 29, 1965, p. 4, col. 1]


[1] Information on this Dorn line from Conrad Dorn. Family story is 1879 Koonrad and Maria arrived via boat with children.  Also, "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MS2V-PQP : accessed 24 March 2015), Konrad Dorn, Utica city Ward 9, Oneida, New York, United States; citing sheet 10A, family 225, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,133.
[2] Findagrave.com for John Adam Dorn d: 23 May 1917. Margaret Lutz Dorn 1872-1929. St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Oneida County, New York.

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