I decided to write this in hopes that other people who may be researching the Kaufmann and Zopf surnames may be able to fill in some blanks. Both families originated in Austria-Hungary from 1900 through 1912 and after their arrival in the United States, they settled in and around Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Lawrence Kaufmann and Wilburga “Sophie” Zopf were my grandparents on my mother’s side.  It is very obvious that even though they had a very large family, they were not a close family.  There are only a few living children from this large family and none of them know very much about their parents as to where and when they emigrated.  It is also striking that, even within this family, brother and sister spelled their surname Kauffman and Kaufmann.  Cousins living in Bethlehem do not know first cousins living in the same area.  The Zopf family (later spelled Copf) completely lost touch with the Kaufmann family.  So it is within this context that I started my investigation.

John Kaufmann

When my grandfather, Lawrence Kaufmann, emigrated from Hungary, he listed his destination on the manifest as the home of his “brother: Joh. Kaufman 8 no Langfer Alley So Bethlehem“.  My grandfather arrived at the port of Ellis Island on 24 April 1907 on the ship named the Statendam which departed from Rotterdam.  So this was the starting point for my research.  Who was this Joh?  The German spelling of Joh could be Johan or Johann while the Hungarian spelling is Jónás.

My search for John took me to Jónás Kaufman who along with his wife Jónásne Kaufman (Mrs. John Kaufman) arrived at Ellis Island on 3 April 1906.  The manifest stated that they were in the United States before and lived in Bethlehem, Pa., listing their year of immigration as 1901 for Janos and 1900 for Janosne.  However, their stated destination on this trip in 1906 was Newark, New Jersey.  The manifest also listed: Nationality – Hungary, Race of People – Magyar, Last Residence – Vagy Estergaly (probably not the correct spelling).

The 1910 census for Irvington Ward 3, Essex, New Jersey shows a John Kauffman and his wife Marie Andresz Kauffman (both from Hungary) and two sons, John Jr. and Emil (born in Pa), and a servant named Elizabeth Bans.  John’s occupation was shown as a Hotel Keeper.  The census also showed that John Immigrated in 1901. The date for Marie’s immigration is not clear but could be 1900. No other census records have been found for John and Marie.

This John Kaufmann was born about 1882 or 1883 based on the ages shown on both the ship’s manifest and the 1910 census.  Death and burial information is unknown.

Could this John be the brother of Lawrence?  Based solely on the prior immigration dates shown on the 1906 manifest and the 1910 census record, it seems clear that these are the same people.  However, based on this information alone, it is still unclear they were brothers.

Was Lawrence just using his brother as a sponsor and knew that his brother no longer lived in Bethlehem?  Since John had lived in Bethlehem before he may have had some contacts still living in Bethlehem.

Interesting note:   This John and his family moved back to Hungary probably before the 1920 census.  John and his wife had more children in Hungary but John’s two sons, John Jr. and Emil, moved back to the country where they were born, the United States.  John Jr. obtained a U.S. Passport in 1926 in Budapest, Hungary.  John and his brother returned sometime between 1926 and 1928.

Joseph Kaufmann

One of the few certainties I have is the fact that Lawrence Kaufman had a brother named Joseph.  This has been confirmed through church records in Bethlehem.  Additionally, Wilburga and Joseph’s wife, Susanna Zopf were sisters.  However, what is unclear and not confirmed is the date of Joseph’s immigration.

I have found one manifest that seems to fit except for Joseph’s age.  The manifest that I located is for a Jozsef Kaufman arriving in the United States through the Ellis Island port on 23 May 1905.  The age for Jozsef looks like 28 but the writing is unclear and could be 20 which would be closer to his correct age.  The Jozsef Kaufman on this manifest listed his destination as Northampton, Pa.  It also says that Jozsef was traveling to the home of his cousin Vineze Dzellhoffer (very difficult to read). His cousin’s home was shown to be in Northampton, Pa.  The manifest also listed: Nationality – Hungary, Race of People – Magyar, Last Residence – Bakonybel (which could be Bakonykoppany where there are many Kaufmann’s).

The 1910 census for Newark Ward 12, Essex, New Jersey shows a Joseph and Susanna Kaufman (both from Hungary).  The census shows that they were married for 1 year with no children.  The date of immigration for Joseph was shown as 1904 and Susanna 1909.  Their ages, their marriage date, and immigration dates seem right except for Joseph’s immigration date.  Joseph was shown to be a laborer in a Wire Mill.

Joseph Kaufmann was born on 17 February 1886 and died 8 April 1927 and is buried in Holy Ghost Cemetery in Bethlehem.  He married Susanna Zopf on 19 August 1909 in the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Bethlehem.  Joseph’s World War I Registration Card, dated 12 September 1918, shows that he and Susanna were living at 818 Walnut, So. Bethlehem, Pa.  His place of employment was Bethlehem Steel Co.

Both the ship’s manifest and the 1910 census seem to confirm that these are the same people.  It is unclear why they would be in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey.  However, it is interesting to note that the above John was also shown living in Essex County, New Jersey in 1910.

Lawrence Kaufmann

As stated above, Lawrence (Lörincz Kaufman) immigrated through the port of Ellis Island and arrived 24 Apr 1907 on a ship named the Statendam.  The ship departed Rotterdam on 12 Apr 1907 and he was 17 years old when he arrived.  He is listed as a laborer, had 10 dollars in his pocket, and a ticket to Bethlehem.   He was of fair complexion, 5 feet 7 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes, and had no marks of identification.  The manifest also listed: Nationality – Hungary, Race of People – Magyar, Last Residence – Esztergat Hungary.  It is obvious to many that study Hungary in the early 1900s because there is no such place or town named Esztergat but it could be Esztergom.

The 1910 census for South Bethlehem Ward 3, Northampton, Pennsylvania shows Lawrence, Wilburga, and son Lawrence 2/12 (2 months old).  It shows that both Lawrence and Wilburga immigrated in 1906.

Lawrence Kaufmann was born 23 January 1889 and married Wilburga Zopf in Bethlehem, Pa. at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church on 6 Oct 1909. His World War I Registration Card, dated 5 June 1917, shows him living with his wife and 4 children at 917 E. Third St., So Bethlehem, Pa.  Additionally, this card listed his place of birth as Veszgserum (very difficult to read but could be Veszprém), Hungary.  His World War II Registration Card dated, 27 April 1942, shows that he and Sophia were living at 430 Montclair Ave., Bethlehem, Northampton, Pa.  Both his World War I and II Registration Card show him employed by Bethlehem Steel Co.  I have also found his 1930 census records listing their many children.  Lawrence Kaufmann died 3 Mar 1960 and is buried in Holy Ghost Cemetery.

Wilburga Zopf

Wilburga immigrated through the port of Ellis Island and arrived 19 April 1906 on a ship named, Zeeland.  The ship departed Antwerp on 7 April 1906.  Her last place of residence was Felso Ronok, Hungary.  She was 17 years old when she arrived and her stated destination was her cousin’s home in South Bethlehem, PA.   The cousin’s name shown on the manifest was, Alois Schuster.  She was shown to be a laborer and had 10 dollars in her pocket along with a ticket to her final destination.

Wilburga Zopf was born 25 January 1889 and you can see Lawrence Kaufmann above for census and marriage information.  Wilburga “Sophie” Kaufmann died 29 September 1946 and is buried in Holy Ghost Cemetery.

Susanna Zopf

Susanna immigrated through the port of Ellis Island and arrived 7 April 1909 on a ship named, Zeeland.  The ship departed Antwerp on 27 March 1909.  Her last place of residence was Felso Ronok, Hungary.  She was 18 years old when she arrived and her stated destination was her brother Lorenz Kaufman So Bethlehem, Pa 407 Pastor Str.  She had 19 dollars in her pocket along with a ticket to her final destination.  Other information on the manifest says that she was 5 feet 1 inch tall with fair complexion and had blond hair and green eyes.  Her place of birth is listed as Felso Ronok, Hungary.  She listed her brother Leo Zopf as her nearest relative in the “country whence alien came.”

Susanna Zopf was born 6 August 1892 and you can see Joseph Kaufmann above for census and marriage information.  Susanna died in 1919 according to the Holy Ghost Church cemetery records but I was unable to locate her grave at the cemetery.  Her grave may be unmarked or she could be in the same plot has her husband Joseph Kaufmann.

Leo Zopf

Leo immigrated through the port of Ellis Island and arrived 30 April 1912 on a ship named, Finland.  The ship departed Antwerp on 20 April 1912.  His last place of residence was Radeszdorf, Austria.  He was 17 years old when he arrived and his stated destination was his brother-in-law Josef Kauffman, Bethlehem.  He had 18 dollars in his pocket along with a ticket to his final destination.  Other information on the manifest says that he was 5 feet 5 inches tall of fair complexion.  His place of birth was shown to be Germany, Radeszdorf.

Leo Zopf was born 29 June 1895 and married Cecelia Muhr about 1913.  His World War I and II Registration Card show him living in Bethlehem, Pa. and working for Bethlehem Steel Co.  I have also found 1920 and 1930 census records.  Leo died Feb 1980 in Topton, Berks County, Pa.  Cecelia died Feb 1983 in Topton, Berks County Pa.

Addendum:

2 December 2008

I want to thank Margaret Kaiser editor of the Burgenland Bunch for her efforts to locate the birth place of the Kaufmann and Zoft families.  Efforts to find the Zofts in Catholic Church records in Felsö-Rönök Hungary have been unsuccessful as of this writing.  However, it is believe that the Kaufmanns are from Nagyesztergár is Veszprém County Hungary.  As more information becomes available I will post it here.

18 November 2009

Thanks to the great effort of Liz Kaufmann, György Endresz (Hungary), and Joseph J Jarfas (interpreter), I can now say that the above information is correct.  John (János), Joseph (József), and Lawrence (Lörincz) Kaufmann were all brothers and they also had a sister named Maria that died very young.  This family came from Nagyesztergár, Veszprem, Hungary where there are still living relatives.  Their parent’s names were János and Terézia Heidenger Kaufmann.  If anyone is researching this family and would like additional information please contact me.