During one of the many wars and revolutions in Spain preceding the English and French campaign between Wellington and the Marshals of Napoleon, a Spanish gentleman of fortune fled from his native land to the Rhine province of Germany. He brought a great deal of wealth with him, and being a man of education soon became well known and influential. Whatever the name might have been in Spain, in Germany it became Harlfinger. He married a German girl of the province, and three sons, all noted for their great size and strength, were born to them; they stood over six feet in height; they were such men as the Emperor Napoleon loved to have around him, and two of them became soldiers of France. They were with Napoleon in his campaign against the snow and ice of Russia and never returned from that fatal campaign. One of the sons who was lost in Russia was Clement, the other is not known. A daughter, Louise, married ———— Loucks; lived and died in Germany. The third son was Joseph.
(I) Joseph Harlfinger was a distiller of brandies and manufacturer of dry stuffs. He died at the age of eighty-two. He married a German girl of the same province, who died at the age of sixty-two. Eleven children, some of whom came to the United States, and the children who grew to years of maturity are:
- Franz, came to the United States and settled in Albany, New York, in 1852; died there at the age of seventy years; children:
- John, deceased, and
- Annie Maria, married George Trapp, a merchant of Albany.
- Rosana, lived and died in Germany.
- Frederick, see forward.
- Anna, married Joseph Shunk; both lived and died in Germany; they left a daughter Rosie.
- Ursetia, married Michael Hollenbeck; came to the United States in 1852; died in Albany, New York, leaving issue.
- Margaretta, married and died in Germany; her husband, Mathias Bauer, later came to Albany where he died leaving Frank and Fred Bauer, both soldiers in the civil war.
- Martin, died in Germany.
- Clement, died in Germany.
(II) Frederick, Jr., son of Joseph Harlfinger, was born in Germany, 1816, died in Zell. He learned the baker's trade, and became the leading baker of Zell, where he was in business many years. He was a leader and master of the craft in that city; inspector of all journeymen and passed upon applicants to follow the baking business. He married, in Zell, Almira Muth, born 1821, died May 24, 1887. She was of Holland ancestry. Children:
- Anna Maria, married Andrew Griesen, a house decorator of Zell; six children.
- Andrew, came to the United States in 1871, located in Albany, where he died; married Anna Maria Friederzi, who survives him.
- Amelia, married Frederick Klineman, born in Germany, now a tailor of Albany.
- Frederick, see forward.
- Margaretta, died in Albany.
- Carl, died in Germany.
- Eva, married Joseph Muth, and lives in Germany.
- Susanna, died in Germany, unmarried.
- Christian, came to the United States at the age of fourteen years; he is in the baking business on Central avenue, Albany; married Helen Day, and has issue.
- Gertrude, married Jacob Andre, of Albany; retired.
(III) Frederick J., son of Frederick (1) and Almira (Muth) Harlfinger, was born in Zell, Germany, December 6, 1850. He was taught the baker's trade by his father, and worked two years as a journeyman baker after leaving him. In 1872 he managed with some difficulty to evade conscription into the army, and obtaining passage on the steamship "Austria," came to Canada, landing at Montreal. He continued his journey to Albany, New York, where he found employment at his trade. In 1880 he began business for himself on Central avenue, Albany, where he continued successful and prosperous until 1909 when he retired. He has been active in local ward politics, served as assessor several years, and was the candidate of his party for sheriff of Albany county. He married (first) in Albany, September 26, 1876, Annia M. Gouthier, born in Bavaria in 1854, died February 10, 1902, in Albany. Children:
- Frederick, third, born July 4, 1877, died at the age of three years.
- Julia A., born March 11, 1879; married Frank Rammroth, and has a daughter Jane; Frederick, only son, deceased.
- Anna M., born December 11, 1880; unmarried.
- Anthony, born June 3, 1882, died in infancy.
- Phillip J., born September 13, 1884, died in childhood.
- Augustus B., born October 13, 1887, unmarried. In connection with his sister, Anna M., he is established in the baking business in Albany.
- Theresa, born February 24, 1889.
- John Joseph, born January 13, 1891.
- Two children died in infancy.
He married (second) June 7, 1904, Sophia Wittemer, born in Albany, March 13, 1856, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Roth) Wittemer, both born in Rhinefaltz, Bavaria. They came to the United States in 1854, settled in Albany, New York, where Jacob died at the age of sixty-three years, Mary at seventy-three years.