Anna Laura C— Traudt (Laura Anna Traudt)2, born
April 2, 1867 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, the daughter of
Frederick A— Traudt1 and
Lizetta A— (Hausmann) Traudt.
In June, 1880 she was attending school and living at home with her parents' family at 425 Springfield Avenue, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.
Laura married, on Thursday, June 25, 1891, at the residence of her father in Newark, Herman August Metz of New York City. He was born October 19, 1867 in New York, New York, the son of Edward J— Metz and Frances K— (—) Metz, both natives of Germany who came to the United States in 1848. The Metzes had no children.
Metz was a wealthy businessman and politician. one of the largest manufacturers of dyestuffs and chemicals in the United States. His highest political attainments were comptroller of the City of New York for 1906-10 and Member of Congress from the Tenth New York District from 1913-15. His biographies in the standard biographical resources list long series of lesser distinctions, and others are noted in the New York City directories of his time. On November 19, 1915 Laura obtained a divorce from Metz at Reno, Nevada. The decree was secured on grounds of desertion, which she said occured at New York City in 1909. The complaint stated that all property rights had been settled. Metz did not contest the case, but filed an answer denying the allegation of desertion. After her divorce Laura was back in New York by about December 12 or before, and occupied the home of her former husband at 253 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn. For Herman's subsequent history, see the Appendix to this entry. Laura endowed and supported a rest home with her money from the divorce settlement. During the Depression she suffered losses, primarily, it would appear, from trying to keep the home afloat. In her later life she lived in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, New York City. An unmarried sister, probably Mathilda, lived with her, possibly as early as 1916.
In 1931 Laura was living at 161 Rugby Road, Flatbush, Brooklyn. There on Wednesday, September 2, 1931 her sister Mathilda died. Services were held at the same location at 8:30 P.M. on Friday, September 4. A private interment followed on Saturday, September 5. Laura Traudt Metz died Saturday, March 25, 1944. She was survived by siblings Margaret Wenisch, Anna Maloney, and Charles and Oscar Traudt. Services were held at the Fairchild Chapel, 86 Lefferts Place, Brooklyn, at 8:30 P.M. on Monday, March 27, 1944. Interment was in the Traudt family section of Woodland Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey. Her grave marker bears the following inscription:
From 8/6/2012 revision.
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