Collection provenance and family history by Alisa Zahller 1.20.16
Donations made in the 1962 and 1970 and offered for Leadville property—see letter in accession file from Margaret McLister
The son of Rhodius and Elizabeth Stockdorf, Julius F. Stockdorf (1825-1911) was born in Wurtenburg, Germany in 1825. The only member of his family to emigrate, he came to America in 1845 at the age of nineteen. According to Wilbur Fiske Stone, he came for health reasons and upon seeing the opportunities in America, stayed. By 1850, Julius was living in New York where he worked as a store clerk. Around 1855, he moved to Pennsylvania where on April 5, 1858 he married Thusnelda Clara Baur in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Thusnelda was the daughter of Joseph and Pauline Baur, German immigrants who came to America in 1853 with their eight children; five more, including Thusnleda were born in America. The Baur family settled in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. In 1858, Thusnelda and Julius’s first child, a daughter named Bertha, was born. Son Emil followed in 1860 and daughter Matilda in 1863. By 1864, Julius and his family were living in Rush, Pennsylvania where Julius was operating a hotel and liquor store. In 1865, Julius and Thusnelda’s fourth child, a son named Frederic, was born.
Seeking greater opportunities, Julius F. Stockdorf left Pennsylvania for Denver. In August of 1866, The Rocky Mountain News announced J. Stockdorf’s arrival by stage from the east. On October 8, 1866 the News announced F. J. Stockdorf as the proprietor of the Pennsylvania saloon and restaurant (formerly the Denver saloon) on Black Street, opposite the Elephant Corral. According to the paper Stockdorf “fitted up this old favorite stand in good style again and keeps on hand” the best kind of sausages, bolognas, cheese, pies, coffee, wines, liquors and cigars. The paper also noted free lunch every morning at the Pennsylvania from 10 to 12; evidence of early marketing strategies by Stockdorf. In May of 1867, after a long journey in a stagecoach that included being chased by American Indians on horseback, Julius’s wife, four children and brother-in-law Otto Baur joined him in Denver. In 1869, Julius and Thusnelda’s fifth child, a son Charles was born; he likely died in infancy, as did two other infants born to the couple.
In 1870, Stockdorf sold the Pennsylvania House and acquired the City Hotel, a boarding house between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets on Market; in 1870 Emma and Otto Baur are living in the City Hotel with the Stockdorf Family. Considered the largest and finest establishment of its kind in the west, he sold it in 1875. He then went to work for the U.S. Mint and in 1878 operated a Billiard Hall. In 1879, Julius and Thusnelda Stockdorf moved from Denver to Leadville. In Leadville they operated the Keeps Concert Hall, followed by a restaurant and later a floral business known as the Stockdorf Conservatory (7th Street in Leadville). After twenty-two years in Leadville, the couple retired from active business and returned to Denver in 1901.
Retired in Denver, Julius Stockdorf remained active in the Republican Party, was a member of the German Lutheran Church and a founder of Turn Verein or Turnverein (pronounced “TOORN-fair-ine”) and also known as the Turners; an organization named after social and political events in Germany, this organization overtime became a German Lodge of sorts dedicated to the preservation of German traditions and culture. Between 1922 and 2008, the Denver Turnverein met at the “German House” on 1570 Clarkson Street. In 2008 the Denver Turnverein changed its name to Turnverein Dance and Cultural Center. Due to declining membership, the German Lodge last met in July of 2012.
Julius F. Stockdorf died in December of 1911 at his Denver residence at 1415 Corona Street at the age of 86. Thusnelda Stockdorf remained in Denver with her daughter Bertha until her death in 1926.
Notes on Stockdorf children:
In 1879, Julius and Thusnelda Stockdorf moved from Denver to Leadville with their children
1900 Bertha and Emil living with parents in Leadville
1901 all but Frederick return to Denver
Bertha Stockdorf (1859-1950)
In 1871 received her diploma at the Denver fair—event made the news.
1888 spends three months in Delta, Colorado
1910, noted as a china painter in census
1913 Denver City Directory, listed as a china decorator (living with mother and Emile at 1415 Corona in 1913)
1920—Bertha, Thusnelda, Emil, Frank and Matilda McLister all living together at 1415 Corona
1929—living with Emil at 1415 Corona who is working at Kohler-McLister Paint company
1930—Bertha and Emil living at 1415 Corona (no occupation for Bertha, Emil noted as paint mixer in the 1930 census)
Emil Stockdorf (1860-c.1930)
1879, apprentice bookbinder in Denver
1892, pressman in Leadville
1902 Emil Stockdorf working in Canyon City at prison
1910 noted as a paint maker at a paint factory in the census
1913 Denver City Directory, listed as a grinder at Kohler-McLister (living with mother and Bertha at 1415 Corona in 1913)
1920—Bertha, Thusnelda, Emil, Frank and Matilda McLister all living together at 1415 Corona
1929—living with Bertha at 1415 Corona and working at Kohler-McLister Paint company
1930—Bertha and Emil living at 1415 Corona (no occupation for Bertha, Emil noted as paint mixer in the 1930 census)
Matilda Stockdorf McLister (1863-1937)
1897/1898 Stockdorf & McLister making candies and ice cream in Leadville
1920—Bertha, Thusnelda, Emil, Frank and Matilda McLister all living together at 1415 Corona
1922 and 1928 Denver City directory lists name as “Tillie”--nickname
1937 dies, noted residence is 1415 Corona, obit notes involvement in Catholic charities, husband Frank A. McLister involved in mining and died in 1932, son Frank McLister of 678 Humboldt street and manager of the Kohler-McLister Paint Company, buried at Fairmount
Frank A. McLister (husband)
1848 born in Scotland, age of 9 came to America, settled in Ohio, attended public school
1865 enlisted in Company H 195th Ohio Infantry, served in Civil War until the close, returns to Ohio in the mining and railroad industries
1879 moves to Leadville, Colorado, in mining
1881 starts public career, continues to 1185, serves as city treasurer, alderman and sheriff—while still in mining industry
1893 appointed warden of the Colorado State Penitentiary at Canyon City
1903 Henry Kohler (1854-1936) moves to Denver and starts paint company—needs further research to determine when McLister joins and the addition of wall paper as a product. Note Kohler was also German (born in Toledo to German parents), a civil engineer and resident of Ohio—he also lived in Delta County, Colorado and raised stock. Kohler and McLister likely knew each other for sometime before going into business together
1912 Henry Kohler listed as president of the Kohler-McLister Paint Co. and Frank Listed as Secretary and Treasurer
1915 salesman for Kohler-McLister Paint Co. at 1461 Logan
1928 no occupation listed
1931 died, buried at Fairmount
Frank J. McLister (son)
Born 1885-died 1978
1900 living in Leadville with parents
1920 manager of paint store, living with wife Margaret and son Henry B. and servant Lizette Toth at 678 Humboldt
Margaret B. (daughter-in-law, wife of Frank)
Born 1888-died 1973
Daughter of Isabelle Clara Boehmer (born in Mass. 1854, living in Denver in 1924, and died ) and Max Boehmer (born in Germany, civil engineer in Leadville in 1883 -1913)—Margaret’s sisters: Helen, B. Bosworth, Ruth B. Argoll/Argall and sister of
Max Boehmer
Henry B. McLister (grandson of Matilda and Frank A.)
Born 1913-died1997
Frederick Stockdorf (1865-1899)
1887-1890 Payne & Stockdorf
1887, photographer in business with D. R. Payne (Payne & Stockdorf) in Leadville
1894-1895 and 1898 O’Keefe and Stockdorf
1894, O’Keefe and Stockdorf—win gold medal/badge in St. Louis for photographs
1896, O’Keefe and Stockdorf photograph the Ice Palace in Leadville
1897 Fred Stockdorf of Leadville married Octavia Noll of Denver, in Denver—couple lived in Leadville after marriage
1897 Fred Stockdorf elected vice-president of the Turners or Turn Verein, Leadville
1897 Fred Stockdorf vice-president of the Leadville Cycle Club
1898 Frederick and Octavia move to Denver because of Fred’s health problems
1899 Frederick dies--Fred Stockdorf at the time of his death also a member of the Silver camp No. 12, Woodman, and Elks of Leadville; 1902 Octavia remarried William E. Dundas in Denver
Charles Stockdorf (1869-c.1874)
Clara P. Stockdorf—removed from City Cemetery to Fairmount 7/10/1895