Abraham Baum
1835 – 1918
Timeline
1835 – Birth
KLEINKARLBACH, BAVARIA, GERMANY
Abraham Baum was born in Kleinkarlbach, in the Providence of Bavaria, Germany. According to his headstone, he was born on April 10, 1835, but his obituary in the Democratic Watchman stated he was born in February of 1834. His parents are unknown, but he had at least nine siblings, including: Adam Baum, Aaron Baum, Samuel Baum, Mrs. Robert Strauss, Frederica Goldstein, Mrs. Freundenthal, Simon Baum, and an unnamed brother and sister in Germany.
1865 – Naturalization
CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Abraham, along with his brother, Adam Baum, petitioned the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County on August 31, 1865, to become citizens of the United States of America.
1866 – Marriage
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Abraham Baum married Mary Anspach, also originally from Germany, at the Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, on December 13, 1866.
1918 – Death
BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Abraham died on July 27, 1918, from arteriosclerosis and cardiac degeneration at the age of 84 in Bellefonte.
1918 – Burial
BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Abraham was buried at the Rodef Shalom Cemetery on July 30, 1918, in Bellefonte.
Family Tree
Spouse
◦ Mary Anspach Baum (1838-1902)*
Children
◦ Jacob Baum (1866-1945)
◦ Hilda Baum Reisman
◦ Rosa Baum Hassel (1870-1922)*
◦ Ferdinand Baum (1872-1919)
◦ Selina “Sally” Baum Katz (?-1945)
◦ Fannie Baum Metz
◦ Lena Baum Monash
◦ Isadore “Israel” Baum (1881-1960)
Siblings
◦ Aaron Baum
◦ Adam Baum
(1835-1907)
◦ Samuel Baum (?-1920)
◦ Frederica Goldstein (1833-1911)
◦ Mrs. Robert Strauss
◦ Mrs. Freundenthal
* = Buried in the Rodef Shalom Cemetery (click the name to view their biography)
Residences
1870 Census
DWELLING NUMBER 173, SOUTH WARD, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Lived with Mary (28), Alfred (3), Jacob (2), Matilda (1), Adler Leopold (22), Simon Baum (18), Barbara Baum (23), and Oscar Hoffman (23).
1880 Census
DWELLING NUMBER 17, SOUTH WARD, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Lived with Mary (38, wife), Alfred (13, son), Jacob (12, son), Hilda (10, daughter), Rosa (9, daughter), Simeon (8, son), Ferdinand (8, daughter), Sarah (5, daughter), Fannie (4, daughter), Lena (2, daughter), and Freda (1, daughter).
1890 Census
SOUTH WARD, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Lived with Mary (38, wife), Alfred (23, son), Hilda (20, daughter), Rosa (19, daughter), Simeon (18, son), Ferd (18, son), Sallie (15, daughter), Fannie (14, daughter), Lena (12, daughter), Isadore (9, son), Morris (7, son), and Harry (3, son).
1900 Census
117 EAST BISHOP STREET, SOUTH WARD, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Lived with Mary (61, wife), Alfred (35, son), Simeon (28, son), Isadore (19, son), Maurice (16, son), Harry (14, son), Frida (20, daughter), and Selina (25, daughter).
1910 Census
NORTH SIDE OF EAST BISHOP STREET, SOUTH WARD, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Lived with Alfred (45, son), Simeon (36, son), Freda (30, daughter), Morris (26, son), Harry (24, son), and Nora Frey (45, servant).
Profile
Click here to view a PDF version of Abraham Baum’s biography.
Abraham Baum was born in Kleinkarlbach, Providence of Bavaria, Germany. According to his headstone, he was born on April 10, 1835, but his obituary in the Democratic Watchman stated he was born in February of 1834. His parents are unknown. He, however, had at least nine siblings, which included: Adam Baum, Samuel Baum, Aaron Baum, and Mrs. Robert Strauss of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Frederica Goldstein of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Freundenthal of Trinidad, Colorado; and an unnamed brother and sister in Germany. Abraham also had a brother, Simon Baum (click here to view his biography), who passed away at his home in Bellefonte in 1878.
Based on Abraham’s response to the 1900 census, he immigrated to the United States in 1855. It is unclear if he immigrated alone or with his siblings. He and his brother, Adam Baum, however, petitioned to become naturalized citizens of the United States on August 31, 1865.
Abraham married Mary Anspach (click here to view her biography), also of Germany, at the Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 1866. He and Mary had thirteen children: Alfred Baum (click here to view his biography), Jacob Baum, Hilda Baum Reisman, Rosa Baum Hassel (click here to view her biography), Simeon Baum (click here to view his biography), Ferdinand Baum, Selina “Sally” Baum Katz, Fannie Baum Metz, Lena Baum Monash, Freida Baum (click here to view her biography), Isadore “Israel” Baum, Maurice Baum (click here to view his biography), and Harry Baum (click here to view his biography).
The first document placing Abraham in Bellefonte is from April 2, 1868, which made him the power of attorney for his brother, Adam, in Bellefonte. A Democratic Watchman article from November 2, 1866, acknowledged the influx of Bellefonte community members, including Abraham’s brother Adam, from Bellefonte to Philadelphia.
The first census record showing Abraham’s residence in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, is from 1870. Over the next fifty years, Abraham resided in the South Ward of Bellefonte. According to the Post Office Directory of 1890, the 1900 census, and Directory of Bellefonte: For the Years 1901-’02, Abraham and his family resided at 117 East Bishop Street.
In Bellefonte, Abraham first worked as a wines and liquors dealer andlater as a horse dealer. The Pennsylvania State Business Directory, 1868-69, listed Abraham Baum of Bellefonte as a “Wines and Liquors, Dealers.” Ads for Abraham Baum & Co., a wine and liquor store, appeared in several editions of the Democratic Watchman in 1868. Until June of 1866, he and his brother, Adam, whose liquor business, A. Baum, is advertised below Abraham’s in the 1868 advertisement, were business partners. The June 15, 1866, edition of the Democratic Watchman included a notice about the dissolution of the partnership between Adam and Abraham Baum under the firm of A. Baum & Co. In the dissolution, Adam become responsible for the books, accounts, and any debt of A. Baum & Co. After separating, Abraham started his own wines and liquors business, Abraham Baum & Co.
The Greevy & Renner’s Bellefonte Directory 1874-75 and the Post Office Directory of 1890 listed Abraham Baum as a liveryman. According to the December 14, 1928, edition of the Democratic Watchman, Abraham began his livery business in one of the first barns in Bellefonte with Isaac Lose on Spring Street. The building was later destroyed in a fire in December of 1928. On February 5, 1892, the Democratic Watchman reported Moyer Lyon was constructing a 60 by 50 feet brick stable behind his store for Abraham Baum’s livery. The Democratic Watchman edition of March 18, 1892, stated Baum’s Livery moved from behind the Lose’s stable to the new stable behind Lyon & Co.’s store on Allegheny Street. Abraham’s oldest son, Alfred, worked with him at his livery, but Alfred left Bellefonte to open his own livery, feed, and exchange stable in Patton in the fall of 1898. Alfred, however, sold his livery business in Patton in 1899 and returned to working at the Baum livery in 1901. The Directory of Bellefonte: For the Years 1901-’02, listed Abraham’s livery, sale, and exchange stable at Cherry Alley. According to the obituary of his son, Isadore, in the Centre Daily Times on January 25, 1960, Abraham’s livery business was located on East Cherry Lane behind the former Opera House, now the State Theater building.
On October 15, 1909, the Democratic Watchman reported Baum’s livery was to be sold at public sale on Wednesday, October 27th because of Abraham’s advanced age. In the Anderson’s Directory and Reference Guide of Bellefonte, State College, Howard and Milesburg Penna.: Including Rural Delivery Routes: 1911-12, however, Abraham Baum of Bellefonte is still listed as a “Stock Dealer.” On April 5, 1912, the Democratic Watchman reported Baum’s livery moved from behind Lyon & Co.’s store to behind the Moose lodge. Abraham’s obituary in the Democratic Watchman stated, “…[Abraham] was in the livery business many years, until the advent of the automobile literally drove the horse livery out of business.”
Abraham died at the age of 84 on July 27, 1918, from arteriosclerosis and cardiac degeneration. He was buried at the Rodef Shalom Cemetery on July 30, 1918.
Miscellaneous Stories
On August 1, 1890, the Democratic Watchman reported the largest family photo ever taken in Bellefonte was taken the prior Thursday of Abraham and Mary Baum and their thirteen children by the photographer Shaffer.
On September 16, 1892, the Democratic Watchman reported Abe Baum of Bellefonte was one of the tent holders at the Grange Fair.
On August 17, 1894, the Democratic Watchman reported Abraham Baum, H. Fauble, Sigmund Joseph, Herman Holtz, and William Grauar were to submit a notice of application for incorporation in the Court of Common Pleas in Centre County on August 27, 1894, for a charter for “The Hebrew Cemetery Association Rodef Shalom, of Bellefonte, Pa.”
On March 5, 1897, the Democratic Watchman reported Abraham was able to walk down the street after he was confined for ten weeks with inflammatory Rheumatism.
Photos
Baum Family Portrait
Photographed in late July of 1890 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, by the photographer Shaffer. According to the August 1, 1890, edition of the Democratic Watchman, this was the largest family photo taken in Bellefonte. The photograph includes Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum and all of their thirteen children. Photo via Tara Mianulli U’Ren, the great-granddaughter of Simeon Baum (son of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum).
Baum Family Portrait with Names
Photographed in late July of 1890 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, by the photographer Shaffer. Photo via Tara Mianulli U’Ren, the great-granddaughter of Simeon Baum (son of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum), and captions by Casey Sennett.
Unidentified Son of Abraham and Mary Baum
Photo via Tara Mianulli U’Ren, the great-granddaughter of Simeon Baum (son of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum). Photo believed to be of Harry Baum.
Ferdinand Baum
Ferdinand Baum (son of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum) is the left-most person in the back row. Photo of 1875 Year Kids, taken in 1891. Available at the PA Room at the Centre County Library & Historical Museum in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Sally Baum Katz, Alan Katz, Myrtle Williams Baum,
and Mary Baum
The Katz Store Display. On display at the PA Room at the Centre County Library & Historical Museum in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. The display includes photos of Sally Baum Katz (daughter of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum), Alan Katz (the son of Sally Baum Katz and grandson of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum), Myrtle Williams Baum (wife of Simeon Baum and daughter-in-law of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum), and Mary Baum (daughter of Myrtle Williams Baum and Simeon Baum and granddaughter of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum). See biography PDF for specifics.
Abraham Baum’s Individual Headstone
Business Advertisements
1868
Democratic Watchman, 1868.
Maps
1892
LIVERY BUSINESS
EAST CHERRY LANE, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Apr, 1892. Map. Click here to view full map.
1897
PERSONAL RESIDENCE
117 EAST BISHOP STREET, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1897. Map. Click here to view full map.
LIVERY BUSINESS
EAST CHERRY LANE, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1897. Map. Click here to view full map.
1904
PERSONAL RESIDENCE
117 EAST BISHOP STREET, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1904. Map. Click here to view full map.
LIVERY BUSINESS
EAST CHERRY LANE, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1904. Map. Click here to view full map.
1911
PERSONAL RESIDENCE
117 EAST BISHOP STREET, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
