VLCMxy #1, Pages 49-51: Baack, What I remember

Hand written notation by G.E. Valley, Jr. 16 May 1985

“Baack”, What I remember:

“Captain” Baack immigrated from Hamburg, was a successful musical instrument maker in NYC, returned to Hamburg and bought himself legally out of the army (he came to the U.S. AWOL) and thereafter styled himself “Captain”.

During the Civil War some smooth talking Virginians convinced him to sell them huge numbers of bugles and when war ended, Captain Baack was dead broke.

His pals offered to set him up in business but he was too proud to borrow money; he sat in his chair for four years and died.

He kept his wife child bearing “like a rabbit” (Mom).

One or two sons went “bad” (i.e. they married Catholic girls and “turned”) One of the girls was also an actress… (Mom)

The loyal son (e.g. stayed Protestant and single) was George Philip Baack who maintained a 5 story brownstone house at 138th St. in the Bronx. He was VP of a 5th Ave house that imported Brussells lace. Very stout, large, he always reminded me of William Howard Taft. Sat on his knee. Watch chain. White pinstripe up vest front (me 3-4 yrs old)

George Philip’s house was run by Mamie, the eldest sister. Also, there was Kate, who heard voices. Emma, who was possibly a widow, was deaf and extremely irritable. She had a misshapen head and I suspect may have suffered from a painful tumor.

Frances Jane Baack Cummins was Grandma. Annie Baack Warren also lived with GPB since John W died (of “inflammation of the bowels” – ordered to drink mercury and jump up and down – his appendix burst).

Tillie (Matilda) Baack lived in an asylum all her life.

Thus I remember that there were 2 or 3 sons and 6 daughters.

I think Mom mentioned 9 children, perhaps plus a few who died in infancy.

When George P died intestate, there was a huge fight with the Catholic faction over his estate. Mom and Frances hired a Mr. Wagner (Waggoner?) as attorney and after about 5 years they won.

Mom took care of Katie and Annie after the others died (Oscar and Grace lived downstairs); she bought and managed for them a 2 family house in Elmhurst on 92nd St. and visited them every week and saw that they were clean, etc.

For a while Annie had stayed with us in Flushing – she mostly said “I wish I were dead” and was a pretty tiresome person. She left before I went to High School.

After Annie died, Katie was moved into a 2 room apartment on Parsons Blvd about .25 miles from the Flushing house. I thought she was a fine old lady – tall erect slim and dignified, always dressed in short waist and choker collar and long skirt and bouffant hair do – elegant – served me tea in Limoge china (from GPB).

Mom controlled and was heir to Annie’s and Katie’s share of GPB estate and possibly some of the others’ also, for she also was responsible for Tillie in the asylum.

I shall add remarks to this as they occur to me while inspecting the stuff that Tom uncovered.

1) It was important not to misspell “BAACK” (e.g. “BACH” was a name for them low-lifes who came from South Germany). WE came from the North!