Christian Oscar Lenzner, Sr.

Notes:

Letter from Walter Gramble (1938), reprinted in The Way It Was, publication of The Cass City Historical Society:

"Then came Oscar Lenzner and his furniture store and factory, his wonderful family of boys, his ingenuity and his music, his glowing tales of far away Austria and its glittering capital Vienna, which he very properly insisted was 'Wa-en-a'. he made furniture, he made musical instruments and could play them. His banjo-guitararina, invented, made and played by himself was worth a chapter in the history of Cass City."

Cass City Enterprises
Vol. XVI. No. 17
April 1, 1897.
Page One

Just before noon to-day, Franklin Lenzner went into his father's shop at his residence on Oak Street and was startled to find the old gentleman fallen upon his face. He was at once cared for and medical aid summoned but all efforts failed to resuscitate him. Oscar Lenzner, Sen., was a native of Germany, but has resided here for many years and has a wide circle of friends, his reputation as a manufacturer of stringed musical instruments being widespread. He was about seventy-three years of age and has been quite active up to the time of his death, being still able to make the very finest inlaid work. Further particulars will be given next week. The cause of his death was paralysis.

Cass City Enterprises
Vol. XVI. No. 18
April 8, 1897.
Page Eight

A Sudden Call

As stated in our last issue, Oscar Lenzner, Sr., suddenly expired on Thursday, the 1?sup?st?/sup? inst., from a stroke of paralysis. Between the hours of ten and eleven that morning, his son, Franklin, was at work at the turning lathe at their workshop on Main Street, and had nearly completed the job he was at when he felt a sudden impulse to go to his father's. Making an excuse to his brother, he went to the house and meeting his mother at the kitchen door, asked if his father was in the shop. His mother replied that he was and they went towards the door which stood open and before entering they saw him lying face downward on the floor. It seems that Mrs. Lenzner had stepped outside a few moments previously for a pail of water and it is thought he must have fallen while she was out. His forehead struck against some coarse chips which cut quite an ugly gash. The doctor was at once summoned but life was extinct. He had three strokes of paralysis previous to this time and it was feared he would go in this manner.

Deceased was born Feb. 14?sup?th?/sup?, 1825, in Leubetha, Saxony, Germany. There he learned the art of making violins and he had ever since taken a special pride in the manufacture of stringed instruments. In the year 1849 he came to America, taking up his residence at Lancaster, N.Y. On June 20, 1853, he was married to Susanna Striffler and came to Cass City in June, 1873. He conducted the furniture store on Main Street, until in more recent years his sons have managed it. Samuel and John are now in Detroit, while Oscar and Franklin are still in the business started by their father. Some years ago deceased secured a patent on a musical instrument called the banjo-guitarina and has since paid especial attention to its manufacture. He also invented what is known as "Kings David's harp" and made guitars, banjos, dulcimers, autoharps, etc. His mechanical ability was of a high order, his ideal of work being that of the true artist:--"Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well." Into every bit of work he did he put his heart. He has spent twenty-five years in this community and we will not again see his equal. Besides the four sons, already mentioned, a widow and daughter survive.

The funeral services were held at the house Sunday morning and were conducted by Rev. B. J. Baxter, of the Presbyterian Church assisted by Rev. B. F. Wade, late of the Evangelical Church, Elkton. The services were attended by a large company of relatives and friends many of whom also followed the remains to the Elkland cemetery. He will be missed, not only by our citizens, but by many others, especially amongst the commercial travelers, who were in the habit of visiting his home when in town. He is gone, but the sweet strains of music he has produced still ring in the souls of hundreds.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2008)

Christian married Susanna Catharina Striffler on 20 Jun 1853 in Erie County, New York. Susanna (daughter of Jacob Anton Striffler and Ottila "Odila" "Otil" Zimmerman) was born on 6 Aug 1823 in Kirberg, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, Imperial Territory Of Alsace-Lorraine, Elsa?-Lothringen, Germany; died on 28 Apr 1905 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Christian Oscar "C.O." Lenzner, Jr. was born on 30 Oct 1854 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 2 Jun 1927 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
2. Franklin H. Lenzner was born on 30 May 1859 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 5 Nov 1940 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
3. John B. Lenzner was born on 8 Oct 1856 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 18 Oct 1932 in Gagetown, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
4. Samuel B. Lenzner was born on 30 Jun 1861 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; was christened on 4 Feb 1886 in Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 20 Jul 1926 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan; was buried on 23 Jul 1926 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
5. Emma Lenzner was born on 28 Jan 1863 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 7 Jan 1945 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 9 Jan 1945 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.