Ludwig Friedrich Laurier

Ludwig Friedrich Laurier

Ludwig Friedrich Laurier, 1875-1939

• Father: Franz Peter Laurier b. 8 Jul 1828, d. 31 Oct 1891
• Mother: Luisa Hofstetter b. 18 Jul 1833, d. 5 Apr 1910

• Ludwig Friedrich Laurier was born on 12 February 1875 in Speyer, Rheinpfalz, Bayern.
• He was the son of Franz Peter Laurier and Luisa Hofstetter.
• He was baptized/christened on 4 March 1875 at Sankt Georgium Evangelisch (now Trinity) in Speyer, Rheinpfalz, Bayern.
• He emigrated with Franz Peter Laurier and Luisa Hofstetter in June 1888 from the Port of Bremen aboard the Norddeutscher Lloyd SS Aller.
• He arrived in the US with Franz Peter Laurier and Luisa Hofstetter and Maria Luise Laurier and Franz Eugen Laurier on 7 July 1888 at the Port of New York.
• He was a sponsor at the baptism/christening of his nephew Ludwig August Laurier on 9 April 1893 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
• Louis Laurier was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before the Supreme Court of Erie County at Buffalo, New York, on 8 September 1896, and issued a US passport two days later, on the 10th.
• Louis Laurier applied for a new passport on 10 February 1902 to the US Legation at Berne, Switzerland. He states in his application that in September 1896 he left his permanent residence in Buffalo, New York, and traveled aboard the SS Furst Bismark to Hamburg, Germany. The following statement accompanied the application: I, Louis Laurier, being duly sworn declare by these presents that my absence from the United States has been for the purpose of pursuing my musical studies in Berlin under Professor Joachim, that I am now temporarily residing in Lausanne for the purposes of perfecting myself in the French language, and that it is my intention to return to the Unitied States in the autumn of this year to perform the duties of citizenship. Vevey, February 5, 1902, Louis Laurier. The passport was issued on 12 February.
• Luise and son Ludwig Laurier returned from Germany in 1902, departing Hamburg on 11 October aboard the Hamburg Amerika Linie dampfschiff Moltke.
• He was First Violinist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City. from 1909 to 1919.
• He married Georgette Ganin on 6 May 1909 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, or possibly 29 April, which may have been the date of the license..
• The following appeared on 19 July 1909 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Mr. and Mrs. August Vorwerk and children of Ontario avenue, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Laurier of Linwood avenue, and Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Laurier left this morning for a two weeks' sojourn at Alexandria Bay.  And on the 29th, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Laurier of Linwood avenue, Mr. and Mrs. August Vorwerk and children of Ontario avenue, and Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Laurier, have returned from an outing at Wilson, N.Y. 
• Ludwig Laurier made his debut (and only performance) with the Metropolitan Opera Company as Montfleury in "Cyrano" on 23 April 1913 in Atlanta, Georgia. Company records indicate that Ludwig Laurier, who was the orchestra manager, probably substituted for tenor Paul Althouse.
• He registered for the draft on 12 September 1918 in Manhattan, New York, while living with his wife Georgette at 242 East 50th Street, and employed as a musician by the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway & 39th Street.
• Ludwig Friedrich Laurier and Georgette Ganin appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in New York, New York County, New York, at 242 50th Street. Other members of the household included Madeleine Laurier.
• He was a musician in a theatre, according to the 1920 census.
• The following appeared on December 1938 in a local newspaper: Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Laurier, well-known residents of Upper Montvale, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Sunday afternoon. The happy couple who have resided at Upper Montvale for the past 23 years, were married December 19, 1888, at Speier, in southwestern Germany. Both were born on the same day in the same town in which they also were married. They have two sons, Carl, well known pianist, and Ludwig. Mr. Laurier is also related to Sir Wilfred Laurier, one time Premier of Canada. /P/ Before coming to this section Mr. Laurier was engaged in the drug store business in Niagara Falls, and was for more than 16 years general manager of the New York office of Colgate & Co., perfumers. /P/ More than 50 relatives, friends and neighbors called at the home Sunday afternoon and evening and extended their congratulations and best wishes, and the honored couple received many beautiful flowers, handsome gifts, and anniversary cards. /P/ An informal musical program was presented, the guest artist being Mr. Ludwig Laurier, former concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera House orchestra and conductor of the favorite hour known as the "Slumber Hour" on WJZ a few years ago. Mr. Laurier, a brother of the honored groom, accompanied by Carl Laurier, his nephew, who is also well-known in musical activities, gave a masterly rendition of the the Max Bruch Concerto No. 1, and as a special gift for the bride and groom splendidly played "La Cinquintain" by Gabriel-Marie. /P/ Frederick Loescher, well known county tenor and director, sang several operatic and concert selections by Schubert and Verdi, and scored with the singing of Jacques Wolfe's "Shortenin' Bread". Later in the evening Mr. Loescher also gave several comic recitations. /P/ Among the guests present were Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Laurier of New York, Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Laurier, daughter Lois, and sons, Eugene and Ludwig, Jr., of Park Ridge; Carl Laurier and son, Carl, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Price, Mr. and Mrs. Norman C. Cooper, and John R. Foxlee, all of Montvale; Mrs. Bertha C. Forbes of Pearl River, Frank P. Schwalm, Mrs. Clara S. Loughrey and Miss Ethel Schwalm of New City; Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Turse and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dick of Park Ridge; Frederick Leoscher, of Pearl River; Mrs. John Carlock and daughter, Mrs. Arthur Krausse, Mr. and Mrs. James S. Mittag and daughter, Barbara, and son, James. Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Irving Mittag and son, James, and daughter, Maryllyn, all of Ridgewood, N. J. /P/ The party broke up at an early hour with all wishing the happy couple many more years of married happiness.
• He was a musician and orchestra leader, according to his death certificate.
• Ludwig Friedrich Laurier died on 16 May 1939 at age 64 in Queens, New York, at 9416 34th Road.
• He was buried on 19 May 1939 at Westwood Cemetery, Westwood, Bergen County, New Jersey.

• Last Edited: 8 Aug 2010