It all started out a few months ago finding a old newspaper article in The Westfield (N.J.) Leader newspaper dated December 29, 1951 with the article caption which read " Corp. Kenneth Condit Weds Joan Karaffa In Cranford Ceremony". This is my dad, Wilbur Condit's, brother. I learned a few things from the article, like when Ken and Joan got married, where my uncle was stationed in the Air Force, what the bride wore. And the thing that caught my eye was the mention of Ken's best man, Avron Wahl. My great grandmother's maiden name was Wahl and her and my grandfather, George Maile, also lived in New Jersey. Emma Wahl was born in Germany. I wonder if we are related some way.
I set out to see if I could find Avron Wahl (born about 1932) via the internet. I found his yearbook photo 1948 (he graduated from Dayton High School, Springfield, NJ, so did Ken but in a different year) , Avron with his family in the 1940's census (Queens, New York), and several Public Records showing him living in Florida. I found the most recent address and wrote him a letter stating who I was , how I was related to Ken Condit and wondered if he was the same Wahl that was mentioned in the newspaper article. And did he know of a Emma Wahl Maile. I included my email address. A week or so later I got an email from Avron (goes by Ron) answering my letter.
Avron (Ron) stated he was best friends with Ken. Remembered how well he played the piano. After graduating high school the two of them went their own ways. He became an lawyer and practiced in New Jersey then retired to Florida. Uncle Ken was in the Air Force and relocated to California. Aaron did not know the name Emma Wahl. He stated that his father, Richard, arrived in the US in 1927 for a visit and never returned to Germany. His grandfather, Heinrich, arrived in the US in 1939 also from Germany.
So my search began - is Avron Wahl and my grandmother Emma Wahl related any way????
Before I continue with what I know I wanted to mention here is that the last time down to Southern California to visit my family I stopped in to see Uncle Ken and Aunt Betty and showed him the email from Avron Wahl. He was very surprised to hear that name. He took a copy of the email with Avron's email address and has since contacted him. It's been over 60 years since they've last communicated.
Now this is what I know about my great grandmother, Emma Wahl.
* Born May 1871, Germany. (1900 Census)
-or 1870 German Births/Baptisms record - Emma Marie Christiane Wahl, born 28 Dec 1870,
Stuttgart, Wurttemberg, Germany - fathers name is Michael Wahl,
mothers name is Christane Straub
* Immigrated from German to US in 1888 or 1887 (have not found her passenger list yet)
* Married Gottfried (George) Maile (1865-?) in 1888. Gottfried also born in Germany.
* together they had 4 children - Kathryn(1894-?), Elsie(1897-1972)(my grandmother), Lillian
(1901-1976) and Caroline (1902-?)
* they lived their whole lives in Newark, Essex, New Jersey
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What I know of the Wahl Family.
- Heinrich Wahl(1850-1960)
- Richard Wahl (1903-1959)
- Cecelia Regina Baer (1870-1936)
Aaron Wahl
-Morris Hoffman
- Fay Hoffman(1910-1989)
Goldie Malzberg
Aaron Wahl (1932 - living) born in Brooklyn, New York - has a sister named Cecelia Wahl (1938- ?)
Father: Richard Wahl (1903-1959) born Heidelberg, Baden, Württemberg, Germany -
*Sailed from Germany to US in 1927 on the Munchen (going to visit uncle, Max
Mannheim) father: Heinrich Wahl living in Heidelberg, Baden , Germany
*Naturalized in 1939 in New York still looking for the papers
*Died 1959 in Garwood, Union, New Jersey
Mother: Fay Hoffman (1910-1989) born Manhattan, New York - died Cranford, Union, New Jersey
Richard's parents were: Heinrich Wahl (1850-1960) and Cecelia Regina Baer (1870-1936) this information I took from a Family Tree in Geni World.com managed by Michael Trittelvits which has not been verified with another document yet.
Heinrich Wahl and Cecelia Regina Baer Wahl had 4 children;
-Walter Joseph Wall (1903 - ?) who married a Sophia Flora ? (1906-?)
*Naturalized 1944 in Brooklyn, New York( Index only) living in Jamaica, NY need to see if I
can find his papers
-Richard Wahl - see above
-Waltrud Sofie Fanny Wahl who married ? Trittelvitz same name as Geni World. com tree above
- Grete Wahl - married Weise living 1927 in Heidelberg, Baden, Germany
I've found a few more Wahl's that were living in Brooklyn, New York but have not found a connection to Emma. Seems I know more about Avron Wahl's family then I do with Emma. But doesn't it seem strange that Ken Condit's best friend in high school has the same last name as his grandmothers? The search continues.
NOTE: Heinrich Wahl's wife, Ceclia last name is Baer, we have a name in our family tree listed as Baeyer. Louisa Baeyer born 1838, Wurttemberg, died 1900 was married to George Oertel (1927-?) also born Wurttemberg.
I haven't found the connection there but I feel it in my gut there is one so I will continue the hunt and report back what I find.
If you would like to leave a comment or two I would love hearing your thoughts.
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