Written by: Doron Zeilberger.
First written: Feb. 7, 1999.
Consequent Updates: March 25, 1999, June 13, 1999.
Last Update: May 7, 2000.
Herman Pinner was born in the district of Posen (now Poznan, Poland) in Prussia, on Jan. 8, 1830, in Birnbaum, Posen, Prussia, the second-eldest son (and third-eldest child) of Rabbi Levin Aron Pinner., and Wilhelmine Goldbarth Pinner, and died in New York on April 24, 1890.
Most of what I know about him is from the New York Times article about his sudden death, dated April 26, 1890, p.5, that I am transcribing below.
------begin NYT 4/26/1890 piece--------------
Mr. Herman Pinner, a well-known and wealthy tobacco broker, died suddenly Thursday night while playing a social game of cards at his home, 133 East Sixty-Fourth Street.
Thursday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Pinner entertained some friends and neighbors at their home. After supper, the gentlemen adjourned to the basement, where they played poker. Mr. Pinner appeared to be in perfect health and in unusually good spirits. During the game, at about 11 o'clock, he complained of a pain in the region of the heart and asked one of his guests to feel how fast his heart was beating. A hand was dealt to Mr. Pinner, and as he picked up the cards he remarked, ``I have a very peculiar hand''.
Scarcely had he uttered the words when the cards dropped from his hands, and he fell back in his chair unconscious.
Dr. S.S.Jones was called in but Mr. Pinner was dead. The doctor said that his death must have been almost instantaneous. Coroner Schultze's deputy, Dr. Weston, made an examination of the body yesterday and found that death resulted from heart disease.
Mr. Pinner was 60 years of age. He was a native of Birnbaum, Germany, where his father was a Jewish rabbi. One of his brothers is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Berlin, and another brother is a merchant in this city.
When twenty-one years old Mr. Pinner emigrated to this country and was for a few years engaged in the lumber business. Thirty years ago he established himself in this city as a tobacco broker at 165 Pearl Street and was continuously in business at the same place until the day of his death. Naturally, he was one of the best known men in the tobacco trade and was universally respected for his sterling business integrity.
The funeral will take place Sunday morning at 10 o'clock from Temple Beth-El, Sixty-third Street and Lexington Avenue, and the Rev. Dr. Kohler will officiate. Mr. Pinner was a member of the Metropolitan Club and several other social organizations, the members of which will attend the funeral.
--------end of NYT 4/26/1890 piece-----------
His death was also written up, in somewhat less dramatic style, in the New York Daily Tribune of the same day. It contains some additional information, but conflicts with the above NYT piece in some details (e.g. his age at emigration.)
--From New York Daily Tribune, Sat. April 26, page 4, column 6------
Herman Pinner, who died on Thursday at his home, No. 133 East sixty fourth st., was born at Birnbaum, Germany, sixty years ago. His father was a rabbi and his four children were well-educated. At the age of twenty four, after first engaging in the Tobacco trade at his native place, Mr. Pinner came to New York and began business as a tobacco broker. In 1871, he was married to Miss Anna Speyer, of this city. He was a member of the Tobacco Board of Trade, and until the time of his death carried on his business at No. 165 Pearl st. His death, which was due to heart disease, was sudden and not preceded by any illness. A number of guests were at the house at the time he was attacked. A physician was summoned at once, but death took place before his arrival.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. to morrow at the house, the Rev. Dr. Kohler, of the Temple Beth El, conducting the service. The burial will be at Cypress Hills.
-----end of 4/26/1890 (p. 4 c. 6) NY Daily Tribune piece----------
He is listed in the New York City Directories for 1869 and 1890. His entry for 1869 read as follows
Shortly after, in 1870, he married Anna Speier (Marriage ID: 2220795092). Anna was about twenty years younger than Herman. She came to the USA, when she was 19, on May 8, 1869, on board of the ship Berlin, sailing from Bremen, disembarking at Baltimore.
Added June 13, 1999: I wish to thank the New York Historical Society, and its dedicated staff, for help in retrieving the NY Daily Tribune piece.
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