Alexander Betz was born in Aufenau, Hesse-Cassel, Germany in 1856 and migrated to America in 1873 from Germany. He settled in New York City and began his trade as a piano key maker. He worked for the famous piano manufacturing firm of Steinway & Sons. New York City in the 1880's and 90's was a difficult place for most immigrants to live with high mortality. Alexander buried five children, before he moved his family from Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan, New York City, to Peterborough, New Hampshire; in about the year 1896. There he owned a mercantile store for a short time. In 1898 his son Alexander junior drowned in the Contoocook River, in Peterborough. He then moved to Dublin, New Hampshire, on the town border with Peterborough, in 1899, and resided on Range III, Lot 1 and turned to farming. A year later he purchased the James Robbe Jr. house on what is now Old Peterborough Road, Range IV, Lot 1. The land was held in the Betz family for some ninety years. Alexander Betz died during a visit to New York City to see his grandson, Joseph Alexander Betz.
Alexander Betz was born in Aufenau, Hesse-Cassel, Germany in 1856 and migrated to America in 1873 from Germany. He settled in New York City and began his trade as a piano key maker. He worked for the famous piano manufacturing firm of Steinway & Sons. New York City in the 1880's and 90's was a difficult place for most immigrants to live with high mortality. Alexander buried five children, before he moved his family from Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan, New York City, to Peterborough, New Hampshire; in about the year 1896. There he owned a mercantile store for a short time. In 1898 his son Alexander junior drowned in the Contoocook River, in Peterborough. He then moved to Dublin, New Hampshire, on the town border with Peterborough, in 1899, and resided on Range III, Lot 1 and turned to farming. A year later he purchased the James Robbe Jr. house on what is now Old Peterborough Road, Range IV, Lot 1. The land was held in the Betz family for some ninety years. Alexander Betz died during a visit to New York City to see his grandson, Joseph Alexander Betz.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
