Baltimore in the 1840s and 1850s

Edward Betts and family lived in Baltimore from the mid 1840s through at least the mid 1850s. This was a turbulent period in Baltimore's history.

"Anti-foreign and Anti-Catholic feeling which had been growing steadily among the native Americans in Baltimore, finally crystallized in the formation of the Know-Nothing Party . . . The latter [foreigners and Catholics] retaliated in kind, their clubs affiliating themselves with the Democrats. During the election campaigns, municipal, state and national, there were frequently bloody clashes between members of the two factions, armed with every conceivable weapons from brad awls to cannon.
To add to the confusion, there were the rival volunteer firemen's associations which frequently engaged in armed conflicts in the streets. Fires burned themselves out while these fights were in progress, and it sometimes seemed as if fires had been started by incendiaries to provide opportunities for the belligerents. . . .
Underneath the contest on local questions was the growing tension between the Abolitionists and the Pro-Slavery advocates ...."

Despite the turmoil, Baltimore of this period had many positive attributes, particularly for small tradesmen and laborers.

A visitor from England noted that "... small shop-keepers, mechanics and tradesmen ... appeared to him to be better informed, more industrious and in better circumstances than the same class in England."

"The mechanics," [commented a visitor from Scotland] "usually live in self-contained houses owned by themselves, of which there are whole streets in the city. These houses are fifteen feet in front and three stories high, and are built of brick, on leasehold sites held for ninety-nine years, renewable forever."

Many visitors from the British Isles commented on the "proverbial beauty" of the women of Baltimore. Said one visitor "Every man is an outré Parisian, and nearly every woman whom you meet good looking." Another said "I had repeatedly heard . . . that the ladies of Baltimore were exquisitely beautiful, and I found that they justify that assertion . . . . . There is much vivacity in their appearance and in their language; they seem very fond of music and have the credit of singing and playing very well; their society is most pleasant."

All were disgusted by the habit of most men (and many boys) of chewing tobacco, which was permitted even in church.

Quotes from "Baltimore as Seen By Visitors 1783-1860" by Raphael Semmes, published by the Maryland Historical Society, 1953.

Read the rest of this post.

Edward Betts, piano maker: the "Co." in Knabe, Gaehle & Co.

Our ancestor Edward Betts was a piano maker. He moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore between 1842 and 1846. There he was an employee of, and later a partner with, William Knabe and Henry Gaehle, who had one of the most prestigeous piano-making firms in the U.S. Our knowledge about Edward's work with the Knabe company from city directories and court records.
Edward began working for the Knabe & Gaehle “at the bench”, making pianos, on March 1, 1847. In October 1848 Knabe & Gaehle asked Betts to superintend the business as foreman.

1847-1848 Matchett's Baltimore Directory
directory listing: Edward Betts; piano maker 113 Lee St.
[the same information is found in the 1849 and 1851 directories, and the 1850 US Census]

As Henry Gaehle’s health deteriorated, he convinced Betts to purchase 1/8 interest in the business, with an agreement dated February 7, 1852 (backdated to January 1, 1851). The business was called Knabe, Gaehle & Co. (see newspaper articles)

1853-1854 Matchett's Baltimore Directory
directory listing : Edward Betts, firm Knabe, Gaehle & Co., 113 Lee near Sharp
advertisement: Knabe, Gaehle & Co.; mentions Edward Betts
(the factory was at "Nos. 4, 6, 8, & 9 Eutaw St, opposite Eutaw House" - near the intersection of S. Eutaw and Baltimore St.)

1853 Baltimore Wholesale Business Directory and Business Circular
advertisement: Knabe, Gaehle, & Co. (page 1, page 2); mentions Edward Betts

The relationship between the partners became acrimonious, and Gaehle withdrew from the firm in 1854, with his brother, William, taking charge of his interest. The firm was dissolved in 1855, with the assets distributed after lawsuits filed in 1855 and 1857.

1855-1856 Matchett's Baltimore Directory
(note that information for city directories was usually taken the year before publication)
directory listing: Edward Betts; Knabe, Gaehle & Co., h 95 Lee
advertisement: Knabe, Gaehle & Co.; mentions Edward Betts

1856-1857 Woods' Baltimore Directory
directory listing: Edward Betts: 95 Lee [no occupation listed]
advertisement: the post dissolution firms Wm. Gaehle & Co and Wm. Knabe & Co.

The Betts family moved to New Freedom in York County, Pennsylvania, where Edward died in March 1859.

Additional Information :
Map showing location of 113 Lee St. in Baltimore's Otterbein neighborhood, which still has 19th century houses (more here and here). In the 1850s this was in District 15, near Camden Station & yards (now the Oriole's Stadium) and the piano factory on Eutaw St. 95 Lee street is within a block or so of 113 Lee St.

Baltimore Superior Court Record Index (source of Edward's basic employment history):
1/17/1855 William Knabe vs. Henry Gaehle and Edward Betts. Dissolution of Knabe, Gaehle & Co.
8/31/1857 William Gaehle vs. William Knabe, Edward Betts, and Western Bank of Baltimore. Dissolution of Knabe, Gaehle & Co.

Knabe Piano Information (none of which mention Edward Betts)
Restoration of an 1841 Knabe & Gaehle Square Grand Piano
Brief history of the company from the present-day Wm. Knabe & Co. web site

Original summary of Edward's work history extracted from the Superior Court records by Rich Kolm (thanks Dad!).

Read the rest of this post.