Paul A. Koch

     Paul A. Koch was born in October 1835 at Frankfurt, Germany; death certificate, aged 72 yrs, 7 days. He was the son of Otto P. Koch. Paul A. Koch married Rosina Beck, daughter of Jacob Beck and Christina Tisch, before 1868 at New York or New Jersey. Paul A. Koch died on 1 November 1907 at Relief Station, Boston, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts, at age 72; By 1907 the family was residing at 242 East Eagle Street in East Boston.
On 2 November 1907 the Boston Globe carried a story on page 2 headlined "Kills Himself With Shotgun - Paul Koch said to have been despondent." It tells us that "while the family were preparing for supper shortly after 6 o'clock Mr. Koch went into the cellar of his house. Members of the family heard the report of the gun and rushed to the cellar. Mr. Koch was found lying on the floor with a wound in his right temple." He was removed to the Relief station, but died a few minutes later. The article says that the year before Paul Koch had attempted to end his life by "cutting his wrist with a razor. He had been suffering from despondency. He was retired from business." One can only imagine the grief of his wife and eight children.
According to Rosina Bowdidge, in a letter written to Pam Wood Waugh dated 29 Oct 1981, Paul Koch had a brother back in Frankfurt, Germany.^1,2 He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts.²
     He was naturalized on 11 November 1867 at New York City, New York, New York; This entry for a Paul A. Koch may or may not be the correct one.. His address at that point was 95 Eldridge Street, NYC, but gave no birthdate, occupation or place of arrival. The petition was entered at the Common Pleas Court, New York County. The writer will have to see if further documentation is available.³ He appeared on the census of 1880 at Boston, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts; Paul O. Koch, 40, sugar boiler, Rosina, 35, both b. Germany, Paul J., 11, Joseph, 9, both b. NY, Louisa G., 5, and Sophia B., 6 mos, both b. Massachusetts.⁴ He lived in 1890 at 250 E. Eagle Street, Boston, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts. He was listed as a sugarmaker.⁵ He appeared on the census of 4 June 1900 at East Eagle Street, Boston, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts; Paul A. Koch, 66, b. Germany, Rosina, 55, b. Germany, had been married 32 years, having had eight children, with six still living. With them were Sophie P., 19, Katherine, 13, and John A. D., 17, as well as Smith Ross, 28, s-i-l, Christina L., 24, and granddaughter, Christina Ross, 1. Paul Koch was listed as emigrating in 1850 and was naturalized. Rosina emigrated in 1853. His son Joseph and family was listed next to him.⁶