Otto Ernst

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Otto Ernst (b. October, 1828 in Germany; d. April 6, 1895 in Ernston, New Jersey) was a clay merchant who likely had immigrated to New York from Germany in 1846.(2)(1) He was one of the original incorporators of the German Savings Bank, an institution with which William was very much involved over most of his life.(5) Both men were trustees of that bank, saw each other often at meetings there, and frequently socialized following those meetings as well as on other occasions.

According to the 1870 U.S. census, Otto Ernst and his wife Elizabeth had three children, Otto, Anna, and Alfred.(10)(11) A listing from New York, 1820-1850, Passenger and Immigration Lists shows an Otto Ernst arriving in New York from Germany on July 27, 1846.(6) This Otto Ernst is of the correct age to be the Otto Ernst known to William, but it is not possible to be certain that it is the same individual.

Otto Ernst was a clay merchant.  The region of New Jersey in which he resided had valuable clay deposits.  The usefulness of the clay as a building material was recognized, and the deposits were exploited over time.  Ernst and other clay miners were recorded in a history of the region.(9)  Otto Ernst is also shown in a document from the United States Patent Office as holding a patent (No. 222,260) on “a new and useful improvement in Buildings for Cremation Purposes,” filed on March 6,1879.(8)

Otto had various business dealings with William, many involving the German Savings Bank.(Diary, 1874-03-02, 1882-03-06, 1889-11-04)  Although William is not among those first trustees who established the bank in 1859, by 1862, when the diary begins, he had become active as a trustee.  As late as 1886, both William and Otto Ernst were still listed among the trustees of the bank.(7)  

William clearly regarded Otto as a friend as well as a business associate.  In February 1882, forgers attempted to sell property owned by Ernst without his knowledge.  Because Steinway & Sons held a mortgage on the property, William was consulted.  He determined that a fraud was being perpetrated and assisted in the forgers being arrested. (4)(Diary 1882-02-27, 02-28)

Otto Ernst died on April 6, 1895, in Ernston, New Jersey, where he made his home at that time.  His place of burial is Ernston Cemetery, where his wife Elizabeth, who died in 1871, is also buried.(2)(3) Ernston is and was an area in New Jersey near South Amboy in Middlesex County. William noted the death of Otto Ernst and described him as an “old friend.” (Diary, 1895-04-09)

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Sources:

1.  Crater, David. S. and Job H. Lippincott, Index of Wills, Inventories, Etc., In the Office of the Secretary of State, prior to 1901, vol. II, State of New Jersey, 1913.
2.  E71, death record of Otto Ernst, New Jersey State Archives, 225 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08625.
3.  “Ernst Memorial Cemetery, Parlin, Middlesex County, New Jersey”: http://www.interment.net/data/us/nj/middlesex/ernst/index.htm
4.  “A Forged Deed,” The New York Times, March 1, 1882, p. 2.
5.  Manning, James Hilton, Century of American Savings Banks, New York: B.F. Buck & Company, 1917, pp. 200-202.
6.  New York, 1820-1850, Passenger and Immigration Lists, record for Otto Ernst, obtained from Ancestry.com
7.  State of New York. Report of the Superintendent of the Banking Department Relative to Savings Banks and Trust Companies for the Year 1886.  Albany: The Argus Company, Printers, 1887, pp. 187-88.
8.  United States Patent Office, Otto Ernst, of South Amboy, New Jersey obtained from Ancestry.com
9.  Wall, John P. and Harold E. Pickersgill, History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Vols. I & II. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1921, pp. 70-71, 440-42, 471.
10.  1870 United States Federal Census record for Otto Ernst obtained from Ancestry.com
11.  1880 United States Federal Census record for Otto Ernst obtained from Ancestry.com