Biography of Peter Kirsch

Bruce's great grandfather Peter Kirsch was born in France in 1852, emigrated to Buffalo when he was 20, and died in Buffalo in 1919 at age 66.

Peter was one of five children born to Jean and Catherine Kirsch. The village of Nousseviller-lès-Bitche, where Peter was born, is in the Moselle region of northeastern France, part of the Lorraine area. The village is about five and a half miles from the border with Germany. Peter probably grew up speaking Lorraine Franconian -- a German dialect.

Peter's father, Jean, was a mill superintendent in Saarbourg where Peter and his brothers worked. After Germany won the latest round of the Franco-Prussian wars, Nousseviller was no longer in France. It had become part of Germany. Peter and his brothers expected that there would be another war, and did not want to be drafted into the German army. So, after their parents passed away, they decided to emigrate to the United States.

Peter arrived in the US in 1870 or 1871 at age 18 or 19. In the summer of 1875, when the New York State census was taken, he was living in a boarding house somewhere in Buffalo's 11th ward and working as a street car driver. The Buffalo Street Railroad began operations in the summer of 1860. Electrification of the street cars did not begin until 1889. The street cars Peter drove were horse drawn.

In 1877, when he was 25, Peter married Katherine Kolb in Buffalo. Katherine was also born in France. She arrived in the US in 1872, a year or two after Peter's arrival. Peter and Katherine had six children, including Bruce's grandfather John Benjamin Kirsch.

In 1880 the Kirsch family was living at 2047 Niagara Street, a block from the intersection of Niagara and Hertel. John was 28 years old, Katherine 29. Their daughter Katherine was two years old, and John was four months. Peter is listed as being a grocer, and as having been born in Lorraine (spelled Lorine on the census form), his wife Katherine as being born in Alsace (spelled Ellsas). It's interesting that at the same address there is another family whose 56 year old head of household is from Lorraine. His name is John Kirch. Spelled differently, but perhaps a relative?

Peter owned and operated the Frontier Hotel in Buffalo at 981 Niagara Street. His business card advertises "Wines, Liquors and Cigars", and says that "Niagara Cars Pass the Door." The family lived at the Hotel. As the owner of a hotel/saloon, Peter was somewhat of a public figure, and is mentioned in several newspaper articles.

The February 15, 1897 issue of The Buffalo Commercial has an article about two suicides. One of which happened at Peter's hotel. He heard gunshots, went to the room of one of his boarders, and discovered the victim, shot multiple times, but still alive.

In September of 1918, Peter was charged with violating the recently enacted Selective Service Act by serving alcohol to a soldier in uniform. His son John paid his bail, and Peter was to appear before a grand jury on the charge. Three months later Peter pled guilty and paid a $25 fine.

Here is a list of newspaper articles that mention Peter Kirsch, his family, and/or 981 Niagara Street:

Peter Kirsch passed away on August 3, 1919. His death certificate lists the cause of death as cirrhosis of the liver, together with diabetes.

We have a photo of Peter wearing his Knights of Saint John uniform.

Peter's older brother Daniel and his younger brother John also emigrated from France to Buffalo. Daniel was married to Magdalena "Lena" Schmidt and John was married to Lena's sister Marie.

Daniel and Lena and their four children arrived in Buffalo in 1888. Their fifth child was born in Buffalo. Daniel died in Buffalo in 1910 at age 59.

John died in Buffalo in 1921.