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VALENTINE DENZER
Originally published in 1900 |
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VALENTINE DENZER, of West Hoboken, was born in Manheim, Bavaria,
Germany., September 18, 1834, the son of Valentine Denzer, Sr., born
September 29, 799, and Elizabeth Becker, his wife, and a grandson of AIbinus
Denzer. In November, 1834, he was brought by his parents to America,
and for nearly three years the family lived in New York City. In August,
1837. they moved to Washington County, Ohio, but in the fall of 1844
returned to New York, retaining, however, their property in the West. The
father was a miller, and in New York was engaged for six years in the
grocery business at 500 Fast Fourth Street. In May, 1856, they returned
to the old home in Ohio, where Valentine Denzer, Sr., resided until May.
1876, when he once more came East, and died in West Hoboken, N.J., August
23, 1878. His wife died in 1884, aged seventy-six.
Valentine Denzer, the subject of this article, attended school in a log
school house in Lowell, Ohio, until he was nine years old. Afterward he
attended the public schools of New York City, and when sixteen took a
private course of study for the purpose of entering Columbia College. This
ambition, however, was not gratified. At the age of eighteen he became
bookkeeper in a large establishment at 57 Elm Street, New York, which
position he held until 1854.
In 1855 he associated himself with Sands & Nathans in the athlete and circus business, and continued with them and their successors – including; P. T. Barnum, Barnum & Bailey, and others – for seventeen years, traveling from St. John, New Brunswick, to Denver. Col., three times in a buggy, and also from St. Paul to the City of Mexico with a team. He visited every State and territory in the Union, and being a close observer gathered an immense amount of information. His work brought him into contact with all classes of people and enabled him to gain a liberal knowledge of the country. which, with his remarkably retentive memory, makes him an interesting and instructive conversationalist. Mr. Denzer became one of the best known showmen in the United States. After leaving the business he formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, Valentine Schneider, and Charles H. Medicus, and opened a furniture store in New York City. The financial panic of 1873, however, forced them to retire, and Mr. Denzer returned to his old profession of bookkeeper, which he still follows. He is an expert mathematician, methodical and accurate, and his books are models of neatness. In 1875 he took up his present home in West Hoboken. He is a member, a Trustee, and a Past Master of New York Lodge. No. 330, F. and A. M., and a member of Manhattan Chapter, R. A. M., of New York City, and of Commercial Lodge, Knights of Honor. He served two years as Master of New York Lodge of Masons, and when he retired December 26, 1893, was presented with a set of elaborately engrossed resolutions and a handsome sterling silver dinner set, consisting of seventy-two pieces, as testimonials from the officers and brethren in appreciation of his services in the chair, in building up the lodge, and inspiring it with his own enthusiasm. Mr. Denzer was married in New York, April 21, 1855, to Barbara Schneider, a native of Germany and the daughter of Valentine Schneider, who died in New York of cholera, and Christina, his wife, who died in 1869. They have had nine children, six of whom survive and reside near or with their parents in West Hoboken.
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