Several of our family members arrived before 1850. The Industrial Revolution in the United States had not yet begun and their trades reflect that. To name just a few: David Fenner was a “coach lace maker.” Johan Hajek was a passementarie / lace weaver, Wilmot Jackson was a rigger - “One who fits the rigging of ships Hoist tackle worker.” John David Muller, Sr. was a cooper, Frederick Bissinger was a shoemaker, and Philip Eschenfelder was a tailor.

The Industrial Revolution brought with it many changes. Hand and home production gave way to machine and factory production. The invention of the sewing machine by Elias Howe in 1846 revolutionized the manufacture of clothing.  Tailors like Heinrich Blank and his sons Henry and Herman either purchased a sewing machine or went to work in one of the numerous clothing factories in New York City. Both men and women were employed as seamstresses, finishers, tailors and knitters. The Industrial Revolution affected even shoemakers like Frederick Bissinger.  The division of labor divided production of clothing, shoes and other items into a number of stages that could be completed by less-skilled workers. Many skilled workers like our early immigrant ancestors probably suffered as they were forced to become wage earners.

In the 1850s and 1860s iron and steel manufacturing was transformed by the Bessemer process that allowed steelmakers to achieve higher temperatures and reduce the impurities in the crude iron. Quite a few of our German families were working as machinists and in iron manufacturing before 1870. Among these men were Edward Frey Jr., August Schroeder, and Emil Baumgartel. Others who later worked in this industry were Emil Roth, second husband of Elizabeth Stritzky, and Gotlieb Ernst, Jr.  Valentine Stritzki and his sons were locksmiths in the 1880s and later became iron workers, a trade they continued to ply into the 1920s.

Division of labor and assembly line production were also instrumental in the manufacturing of the automobile.  As more people purchased a car new job opportunities became available. John F. Miller was a chauffeur in 1910, and Frederick Bissinger sold automobiles in 1920.

                                                           Wall Street
Those who had limited skills often became janitors, a respectable job that often led to greater responsibilities. The Norwegians Henry Wick and Christian Greenwold were janitors in 1900. Their efforts paid off. By 1920 Henry Wick was a file clerk in a bank, and in 1930 was a bookkeeper at International Telephone and Telegraph. Christian Greenwold became superintendent at the Merchant’s Bank on Wall Street.  Christian's son Emil Greenwold became a Bond Trader.  George Jackson Jr., a bank clerk at Franklin Trust on Wall Street in 1917, became vice president of a bank by age 40.  John David Muller, Jr. was also employed in banking most of his life, becoming a Secretary of the bank by 1910.

The massive population increase in New York City and Brooklyn brought about changes in housing. New high-rise apartments were built, and investment in real estate could be a source of income for those who had saved wisely. John David Muller, Jr. was a landlord in his elder years, and William Bissinger became superintendent of an apartment building after 1900.

Newspaper publication blossomed in the 1800s and the need for printers, lithographers, and related trades increased. George H. Jackson Sr., Frederick Ricker, Charles Kruse, husband of Louise Baumgartel, and George Baumgartel all worked in the printing industry.

The invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison not only changed the New York scene but also created new job opportunities. Charles Lehmann, husband of Marie Schroeder was an apprentice electrician in 1920, and George Ernst, son of Gotlieb Ernst Jr. was superintendent at a Power Plant in 1930.

The children of our immigrant families were also expected to work and help with expenses. Those that could not participate in their parent’s trade were often employed as “cegar makers,” laborers, clerks, running boys, news boys, or in the lead pencil factories. The young Eschenfelder girls, who would have been in school in 1860, made artificial flowers to bring in money after their father Philip Eschenfelder died. During their adult lives they worked with gold leaf as cutters and decorators. Although these were low skill jobs with little pay, these young people learned the value of hard work and often found more lucrative employment in later years.