The Stern family of Schenectady descend from the ancient Hebrew family of Würtemberg, Germany, where they settled in the town of Kreglingen. They were merchants usually, but many of them settled on farms and followed agriculture in some of its many forms.
(I) Hirst (Henry) Stern was born in Würtemberg, Germany, in 1810, died at the age of seventy-four. He was a dry goods merchant, and accumulated a competency. He married (first) Minnie Stern, his cousin, who was born and died in Würtemberg, leaving children:
- Minnie, married Wendell Stern, a dry goods merchant: two children, one of them, Mrs. Minnie Struble, died in New York City, leaving a son, Max Struble, a business man of that city.
- Solomon, see forward.
- Jacob, born 1834; came to the United States when a young man, and settled in Galveston, Texas, where he was a well-known, wealthy merchant. He returned to his home in Germany in latter life, and there died, leaving no issue.
Hirst Stern married (second) Fannie Heidenheimer, who survived him, dying in Germany at the age of eighty-five years, having married a second husband ———— Netlinger. By his second marriage there was one child, Nathan, a prominent glass manufacturer of Bavaria, Germany.
(II) Solomon, son of Hirst and Minnie (Stern) Stern, was born in Würtemberg, Germany, in 1832, died in Schenectady, New York, March 22, 1891. He was educated for the Jewish ministry, but his business tendencies were so strongly developed that he abandoned his studies and engaged in mercantile life. He came to the United States in 1857, and after a few years spent in trade in various localities settled in Schenectady, where he was first clerk in the store of Jonathan Levi. He saved his earnings and soon had a sum sufficient to start a small grocery store of his own. He succeeded by hard work and the assistance of his wife, who shared every burden with him. He was in business twenty-five years, and amassed a comfortable fortune. He and his wife were instrumental in establishing a congregation and erecting the Jewish synagogue, and were active supporters. He was a Democrat, and of liberal views and tendencies. He died in 1881. He married, in 1867, in Albany, Fannie S. Wolfsheimer, born in Wykersheim, Würtemberg, Germany, June 24, 1847, and came to the United States in 1859 on the ship "Saxonia." She lived, until her marriage, in Albany with her uncle, Moses Wolfsheimer. She is a well-educated lady with great business ability. After the death of her husband, she continued the business for a time, then disposed of it on favorable terms and removed to Galveston, Texas, where her brother-in-law, Jacob Stern, was in business. She remained in Galveston ten years, and her son, Henry L., had business interests there, which were seriously interfered with by the disaster that overtook that city by a tidal wave and flood. He then closed out his Galveston interests and returned to Schenectady, their present home (1910). She is charitable and generous to those in need. She is a member of the Auxilary of the Physicians Hospital, Schenectady, and member of the Jewish Temple of College street. She is a daughter of Lazarus Wolfsheimer, born in Würtemberg, Germany, 1802, died in 1876. He married Eva Rosenthal, born in the same kingdom in 1805, died 1890. Children:
- Louis and
- Max, died in childhood.
- Fannie S., married Solomon Stern.
- Joseph, an importer and merchant of Würtemberg; he had eleven children, of whom Mrs. Max Stackman and Mrs. Harry Friedman are residents of Schenectady.
- Helen, married Manuel Block, of Albany.
Children of Solomon and Fannie S. (Wolfsheimer) Stern:
- Minnie, married Jacob Joseph, of Schenectady; children: Edith and Stanley.
- Henry L., unmarried; merchant of Schenectady, dealing in gentlemen's furnishings.
- Sadie, died May 22, 1900, aged twenty-four years.
- Lester. in business with his brother, Henry L. Stern.
- Theresa, married Dr. William Gammon, a wealthy physician of Galveston, Texas.
- Isabella, married Zena Hirsch, a graduate of Perdue [i.e., Purdue] University; they reside in Oklahoma city; he is a contracting electrical engineer of that place.
- Milton, of New York City.