Edward Valentine Goerz

Narrative:

     Edward Valentine Goerz was born on 30 Aug 1881 in Hartford, Connecticut.^8,9,10
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Manhattan, New York Co., New York, in the household of his parents, John Goerz and Julia C. Miller.⁴
     Edward married first Anna Maria Williams, daughter of Robert Henry Williams and Virginia D. Cobb, on 4 Oct 1904 in Manhattan, New York Co., New York.^11,12,13
     Edward and Anna were divorced in 1905.^14,15,16

A Second Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Edward married second Mathilda Symes, daughter of Capt. James H. Symes and Matilda Marchens, on 8 May 1909 in Jersey City, New Jersey, with Henry Mahnken, justice of the peace officiating.^17,18,19
     Edward and Mathilda appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Nutley, Essex Co., New Jersey, at 72 High St., enumerated 27 Apr 1910, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged.²⁹
     He was a manager of a beer importer in 1910. Shortly after that be moved to banking, and by 1913 was in charge of the foreign exchange department of the National City Bank in New York City. He was said to be an expert in that field, with a salary well over $5,000.^30,31,32

A Very Messy Divorce --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 28 Sep 1912 Edward left their home at 517 Gregory Ave., Weehawken, New Jersey, and told Mathilda that he would never return. After a few weeks she realized he meant it, and had him charged with desertion and non-support. On 29 Jan 1913 he was arrested on those charges as he was leaving his office at the National City Bank in New York for lunch. She said she had no idea why he left, but news reports claimed there was another woman involved.³³ The case was called in court 12 Mar 1913, and his lawyers obtained a postponement because he had filed a petition for annulment of the marriage. He claimed they had never been man and wife except in name only. She claimed she was in no way to blame for that.³⁴
     Edward's petition for annulment was denied, and on 21 Jun 1913 Mathilda was granted $14 weekly and counsel fees in her suit for separation.³⁵ The marriage of Edward Valentine Goerz and Mathilda Symes was annulled in Sep 1913.³⁶ The Court of Errors and Appeals upheld the lower court decision in May 1914, denying Edward's petition for an annulment, and that failing his petition for a divorce. Thus he was required to pay the ordered $14 per week alimony and $200 counsel fees.³⁷
     On 1 Oct 1914 Edward asked the court to free him from paying any more alimony because Mathilda refused to live with him at an apartment he had taken at 42 Broad St., Newark, New Jersey. She responded that she refused because she did not believe he was sincere, and because she had been told of his misconduct with another woman. She was Mrs. Christiana Adler, described in the press as "an elderly widow, who is promenent in Broklyn musical circles," in a page 1 story with the headline "Accuses Woman Almost Twice the Age of Husband." In fact he was 32 and she was about 47. Edward's attorney said he would borrow money and pay the back alimoney, and the court gave the parties 10 days to file briefs on whether Edward was sincere in wanting to reconcile, and whether the back alimoney must be paid before they would live together again.³⁸
     Mathilda filed for divorce after a detective followed Edward to the bungalow of Mrs. Adler in Tenafly. When police were called in the early hours of 17 Mar 1915 he answered the door pajamas and a dressing gown, and was arrested. She paid his $1,000 bail.³⁹
     Edward and Mathilda appeared on the 1915 State Census of West Hoboken, Hudson Co., New Jersey, at 294 Kerrigan Ave., enumerated 19 Jun 1915, reporting they were renting their home. Anna Gardner, a 20-year-old clerical worker was also listed as living with them. It seems unlikely Edward was actually living there, as their divorce proceeding was well underway.⁴⁰
     Edward and Mathilda were divorced before Aug 1916. No record of the divorce being finalized has been found, but it apparently was, as he married Mrs. Adler then.²⁰

Marrying the Singer --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Edward married third Christina Kocher, daughter of Fred William Kocher and Eliza Esser, on 30 Aug 1916 in Tenafly, New Jersey. She was a well-known singer and music teacher, under her first married name, Christina Alder.^21,22,23
     Edward registered for the draft for World War I on 31 Aug 1918, while living at Hotel Bossert, Montague St., Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, reporting he was employed as a commission merchant for Robert D. Clarke, in Terre Haute, Indiana. There was a note on the registration card that he had been in South America on 12 Sep, when he was supposed to have registered, and had just arrived via New Orelans.³

A Seat on the New York Stock Exchange --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     In Jul 1919 Edward purchased a seat on the New York Stock exchange, from Theakston de Coppet, paying $93,000.^41,42,43
     Edward appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, at the Hotel Bossert, 98 Montague St., enumerated 26 Jan 1920, listed as a lodger. Christina was not listed, but they were both at that time living at the hotel, an apartment hotel sometimes called "the Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn." They also maintained a summer home in Tenafly, New Jersey.^44,45
     Edward and Christina appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Tenafly, Bergen Co., New Jersey, at 455 Knickerbocker Road, enumerated 12 Apr 1930, reporting they owned a home valued at $50,000, and owned a radio.⁴⁶
     In Jan 1933 the New York Stock Exchange suspended six members for paying sums of money to employees of the Exchange stationed at the cabinets of the foreign bond section. Edward received the lightest penalty of the group, a six months suspension, while others were suspended for as long as three years.⁴⁷
     Edward and Christina appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Tenafly, Bergen Co., New Jersey, at 465 Knickerbocker Road, enumerated 23 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $20,000, and that they had lived in the same house in 1935.⁴⁸
     By 1940 he was an accountant, working in the drug industry, when reporting he had worked 40 hours the last week of March, and 52 weeks the prior year, earning $5,000.⁴⁹
     Edward registered for the draft for World War II on 25 Apr 1942, while living at 465 Knickerbocker Road, Tenafly, Bergen Co., New Jersey, reporting he was employed by himself, at 39 Broadway, New York City.⁵⁰

Death of His Third Wife --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     His third wife died before 1943.⁵¹
     Edward married fourth Edith Beger, daughter of Otto Beger, on 26 May 1943 in Little Church Around the Corner, Manhattan, New York, with Rev. Dr. Randolph Ray officating.^24,25
     Edward and Edith moved to California after their marriage.
     Edward died on 27 Jan 1955 in San Diego Co., California, at age 73.^26,27 He was buried in Old North Cemetery, Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut.²⁸