With little information on even his father, Albert Gumpert’s roots and ancestry remain a

mystery, leaving no trace of any grandparents or further lineage. Analyzing etymology to

possibly find further information, the surname “Gumpert” first arose in the 13th century during
the feudal era and likely originated from the state of Bavaria in southeastern Germany.1 Judging
from the absence of information on his ancestors, it is plausible to conclude that Albert Gumpert
came from a family with a long history associated with common work or peasantry in a nation
structured around feudalism.2 Furthermore, the downfall of feudalism aligns with the beginning
of documentation of the Gumpert family, supporting this possibility.

With that, on the 27th of December, in 1847, Fanny Gumpert gave birth to the third of the
young Gumpert boys, Albert Gumpert. Though he was the last boy, Albert wasn’t the last of the
children; Ida Meyer and Helma Schmnitzer were both born after Albert and both to a different
father. This completed the family of five kids. They were all born in Bernburg, Germany, a
nation that was under significant reform and change during the time, but it was also Albert’s
home for more than a decade. His parents had spent the early half of their lives together in this
country. After giving birth to their eldest, Gustavus in 1835, Richard in 1842, the middle child
Albert, Ida in 1848, and finally Helma, the family lived out another several years in Germany.

Along with 90 percent of the German population, it's most likely that the boys and girls
attended Volksschule or public schooling.3 This eight-year education inoculated a large national
identity in addition to science and mathematics. Schools at the time were expected to promote
literacy and education, and also prepare children to become a part of the workforce. Teaching
methods relied on textbook learning and strict discipline, which was meant to sharpen kids’
minds.4 The Gumpert children, including Albert, had most likely acclimated to this system
during their time in Germany. They had made friends, built connections, and found themselves at
home along with the rest of the family. And though the Gumperts had adjusted to life in this
country, there were significant internal structural issues that led to their eventual departure.

In mid-19th century Germany, unrest between numerous states had reached its peak.
German dualism describes the conflict between the two largest German states Austria and
Prussia from 1740 to 1866; the country was at a turning point, a transition period of new
beginnings.5 Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly prosperous. For all families, there were famines,
economic struggles, incessant wars, political grievances, and poor living conditions. The
Gumpert family wasn’t the only one who felt the need to get out. Disregarding these struggles,
there was also a strong pull factor coming from the United States. While on one hand, economic
1
“Gumpert: What Does the Surname Gumpert Mean?” Surname Gumpert: Meaning Origin Variants, iGenea,
www.igenea.com/en/surnames/g/gumpert. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.
2
John McLean. “Western Civilization.” Lumen, Boundless World History,
courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-herkimer-westerncivilization/chapter/feudalism/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.
3
“Education.” Germany - Education, U.S. Library of Congress,
countrystudies.us/germany/124.htm#:~:text=For%20much%20of%20the%20nineteenth,were%20administered%20a
nd%20supervised%20separately. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.
4
“Western Education in the 19th Century.” Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.,
www.britannica.com/topic/education/Western-education-in-the-19th-century. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.
5
“Essay: Migration History in Germany.” DOMiD, Documentation Center and Museum of Migration in Germany,
domid.org/en/services-old/essays/essay-migration-history-in-germany/#:~:text=Incessant%20wars%2C%20religious
%20conflicts%2C%20famines,portion%20immigrated%20to%20the%20USA. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.
conditions in Germany were poor, America, on the other, was a land of opportunity. Viewing it
as an easy way to increase one’s wealth, an influx of German immigrants partook in the journey
to America to seek a greater fortune in the new world.6 Between 1820 and 1920, around 6
million Germans left, most of whom found themselves headed off to the United States. But the
family didn’t leave all at once; Walter H. Gumpert, father of the family, partook in the journey
across the sea on his own. Leaving everything behind, he arrived in the United States in 1856.7
After doing so, he issued his declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen on May 3rd, 1856,
and finally, on August 28th, 1860, took an oath of allegiance to the United States of America
(Documents B and D).

Right after he arrived in Philadelphia in 1856, Walter H. Gumpert began looking for
opportunities to mark the beginning of a new, prosperous life in the United States. Luckily for
him, he had arrived only shortly after the Industrial Revolution. The technological advances that
came about from this revolution had a great effect on the American economy and presented
many opportunities in new, growing sectors. Searching for possibilities in these new sectors,
Walter H. Gumpert saw a business opportunity in the cigar industry.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, cigars were viewed as luxury products that were only
smoked by upper classes during social occasions, as the manufacturing of a cigar required
tedious travail and resulted in high cost.8 However, with an increasing number of factories
popping up and the manufacturing industry becoming more involved in the American economy,
an opportunity for the mass production of cigars arose. With cigars having a reputation for being
luxurious, there would be a new, massive appeal for middle and lower-class consumers that
would come as cigar prices lowered from mass production. Walter H. Gumpert jumped on this
opportunity, and in 1856, he established the cigar store W.H. Grumpert, located in the heart of
Center City at 1341 Chestnut Street (Document Y). To start his business, Gumpert had
presumably rented out the building on Chestnut Street, as a deed from 1860 showed that the
owner of the plot of land was not Gumpert but someone named Sarah B. Vansqekel (Document
E). It was not an easy start for Gumpert, as he had competition from the moment he founded his
company. At 1342 Chestnut Street, Portuondo, a cigar shop that manufactured hand-made Cuban
cigars, was already in business right across the street.9 However, Gumpert did not let this deter
him and worked hard to advance his dreams of a successful life.

While his father was getting settled, Albert Gumpert, at the ripe age of 12, along with his
mother, his brothers, and his sisters, began to follow in Walter’s footsteps. They made the
journey across the ocean on the SS Austria, a 320-foot ship used for the transportation of what
became thousands of immigrants; at the time, it was governed by Captain Heydtmann

6
“Why Germans Came to America.” 29 April 2004. Name and location of publication or collection. Letter. Ruth Lily
Special Collections and Archives. https://ulib.iupui.edu/static/exhibits/circle/exhibit1_2.html Accessed 24 Feb. 2024
7
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1789-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
8
“A History of the Cigar.” QG, The Quintessential Gentleman, 29 Mar. 2023,
www.theqgentleman.com/post/2023-03-a-history-of-the-cigar.
9
“Portuondo, Manufacturers of Cuban Hand Made Cigars, 1342 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. [Graphic].” Library
Company of Philadelphia Digital Collections, Philadelphia,
digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/digitool%3A107008?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=58967583c1721c292c0f&sol
r_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=6. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.
(Document A). Taking a “dampfschiff,” which translates to steamboat, the journey was one of
excitement, of new opportunity, but it wasn’t easy nor simple. It lasted somewhere in the realm
of two weeks depending on the wind and weather.10 Conditions for most, which likely included
the Gumperts, weren’t amazing. There were food scarcities and a lack of adequate room and
board. Nevertheless, the Gumperts arrived in the land of prosperity on July 17, 1858 (Document
C). It was lucky they left when they did, for just two months after their passage, the same ship
that they traveled on experienced one of the worst transatlantic maritime disasters of the
nineteenth century, claiming the lives of 449 passengers and crew.11 This included Captain
Heydtmann, the same man who brought the Gumperts to America.

With over 70 percent of immigrants, the Gumpert family, along with Albert, entered the
U.S. through New York City, which became known as the “Golden Door.”12 They found
themselves at the Castle Garden depot by the tip of Manhattan. After a long two weeks of
sailing, the journey was almost over. All that was left for the family was the process of entry
which included a general inspection to ensure the health and wellness of each person entering the
United States. The system was largely disorganized at this time so it's unclear exactly what they
had to go through for official entry in the United States.

Regardless, after their arrival, the Gumpert family was able to settle in relatively well. As
Walter, Albert's father, had already started his business, the family was able to fit in right away.
They made their trek to Philadelphia and reconnected with Walter, the established U.S. member
of the family. Most of the family found a room near the business, so around Center City
Philadelphia, and Albert followed this trend. In fact, for the first eight years of his time in
Philadelphia, he lived at 1341 Chestnut, where Gumpert Bros. was run. Staying with his
brothers, father, and mother, it’s likely that he began to explore what the cigar industry was all
about. At this point, both of Albert’s sisters went largely off the grid. Ida may have ended up in
New York, and Helma’s whereabouts remain almost entirely unknown. It is possible that they
went off with their father, as they were both born to a different one. During this time, Albert
began to build relationships with both his brothers, while on the other hand, may not have had
much contact with either of his sisters.

After settling down, and living in the United States for about two years, Albert filed his
Declaration of Citizenship Intention in the U.S. on the third of February in 1860 (Document E).
This was the first step towards naturalization for all immigrants. One had to renounce any
allegiance to foreign governments and pronounce themselves as a loyal U.S. citizen. The alleged
purpose of this process was to allow prospective Americans to understand and further their

10
“Royal Caribbean Cruises.” How Transatlantic History Shaped the World, Royal Caribbean Cruises, 25 Apr. 2022,
www.royalcaribbean.com/guides/transatlantic-history-crossing-cruise#:~:text=During%20the%2019th%20century%
2C%20in,in%20a%20breezy%2014%20days.
11
Sjögren, Inge and Thorsell, Elisabeth (2013) "A disaster at sea in 1858," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 33 :
No. 4 , Article 2. https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol33/iss4/2. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.
12
“Immigration to the United States, 1851-1900.” The Library of Congress, United States Legislative Information,
www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/rise-of-industrial-america-1876-190
0/immigration-to-united-states-1851-1900/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.
connection with the nation and understanding of the government.13 Albert made this declaration
in the City Court of Brooklyn under the former clerk, C.F. Whittemore. It wouldn’t be until 1868
when he eventually petitioned for naturalization and became a U.S. citizen.

However, by this time, the Gumpert cigar company was already beginning to flourish,
and Walter H. Gumpert’s business strategies had been working out so far. Because he had
immigrated to the United States with little possessions or money, Gumpert had been growing his
cigar business by initially focusing on cigar imports rather than manufacturing. A newspaper
from the 18th of February 1860 wrote that the Gumpert cigar store had received “65,000 best
quality HAVANA CIGARS” that were for sale (Document G). Another newspaper from
February 23rd, 1860 displayed an advertisement stating that the store always had 1,000,000
Havana Cigars on hand for sale (Document H). This likely means that business was doing very
well as Havana cigars, which are cigars manufactured in Cuba and made with Cuban tobacco
(hence the name Havana), are reputed as the highest quality and most expensive cigars in the
world due to the quality of their tobacco.14 Furthermore, a second address can be seen on the
advertisement for 1,000,000 cigars on hand, meaning that the company had expanded to two
locations, one on 1341 Chestnut Street, and a new one on 4004 Chestnut Street, indicating a
steadfast, growing company.

These documents also showed that the company was rebranded to G. Gumpert Importer,
likely named after Albert Gumpert’s oldest brother, Gustavus Gumpert. It can be inferred that
during this time, around or before the year 1860, Walter H. Gumpert’s three sons, including
Albert Gumpert, had taken up an apprenticeship with him. Working closely with their father, the
three brothers—Gustavus, Richard, and Albert—learned the ins and outs of the company he had
been building up over the past four years. Eventually, this would lead to the three brothers
becoming the successors of their father’s company following his death in 1863 (Document K).
This was a pivotal point in Albert Gumpert’s life, for he and his brothers would grow closer,
forming a tighter bond as business co-owners as they carried on the legacy of their father and
brought the company to a level that exceeded all expectations. Later on, their products would
even be referred to as “Three Brothers’ Cigars” in an advertisement from 1870 (Document W).

As business owners, Albert Gumpert and his brothers were not only hard-working but
also charitable. While the Gumpert family was struggling with the loss of Walter H. Gumpert,
the United States was in a battle of its own. During this time, the American Civil War, one of the
most significant and deadliest pieces of American history, was ongoing. In June of the year 1864,
the Great Central Fair was held in Philadelphia. This fair, featuring art, crafts, and historical
exhibits, aimed to raise money for the United States Sanitary Commission, a private relief
agency that provided assistance to the soldiers and the Union army for issues related to health
and hygiene.15 Of course, as residents of the northern city of Philadelphia, Albert Gumpert and
his family were on the North’s side. In order to support the cause, the Gumpert company
13
“History of the Declaration of Intention (1795–1952).” National Archives, The U.S. National Archives and
Records Administration, 5 May 2023, www.archives.gov/research/immigration/naturalization/history-dec-of-intent.
14
“A Brief History on Why People Prefer Cuban Cigars.” Torch Cigar Bar, 1 Aug. 2016,
torchcigarbar.com/a-brief-history-on-why-people-prefer-cuban-cigars/#:~:text=One%20thing%20is%20for%20sure,
every%20leaf%20intense%20and%20full.
15
James Fuller Queen. 1820 Or 21-1886 Artist. Great Central Fair Buildings, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: P.S. Duval
& Son Lithography, -07. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021670450/>.
contributed 400 cigars to be sold at the Great Central Fair (Document M). Though it is not
clearly legible in the newspaper, the cigars seem to have been valued at $40 in total, which is
worth about $800 today.

As the years passed, Albert Gumpert and his brothers continued to grow their company
and expand further. In March of 1866, their cigar company showed up in an advertisement in the
daily Philadelphia Evening Bulletin as “Gumpert Bros. Importers” instead of “G. Gumpert
Importer” (Document P). Cementing all of their names into the history of the company, this
change signified the growing relationship between Albert and his brothers mentioned previously.
In another advertisement in the Philadelphia Bulletin from May 15th, 1866, a new address can
also be seen under the company’s name (Document O). The advertisement states, “We most
respectfully request our Retail Purchasers to have their orders at our newly and magnificently
refilled and long-established store, in charge of our Mr. ALBERT GUMPERT, *No. 1341
CHESTNUT Street, as we sell exclusively at Wholesale at No. 106 S. DELAWARE Avenue.”
From this, it can be concluded that, around this time, Albert Gumpert had begun playing a larger
role in the operation of their business as the primary operator of the main building. Furthermore,
the addition of a store selling exclusively at wholesale indicates that the business has grown to a
new level, becoming not only a supplier for average consumers but also for other cigar
businesses. In only a few years, Albert Gumpert and his brothers had steadily grown their
company into a strong cigar supplier for the Philadelphia area.

Despite their rapid growth and success, it would be ignorant to say that the Gumpert
Bros. did not face their fair share of hardships. According to a newspaper from the daily
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, on the night of January 10th, 1868, “the cigar store of Gumpert &
Brother” was robbed. It was carried out by unscrewing a side door, giving the culprit entry to the
store (Document T). The thief ended up stealing imported cigars with their value totaling to
$500. This equates to roughly $10,900 in 2024. No records of anyone being prosecuted for the
crime were found, and, likely, the criminal got away unpunished as there were no security
cameras in the 1860s, and forensic technology was almost nonexistent. However, looking at the
positive side of the story, the newspaper listed the address at which the crime occurred as 414
Arch Street, implying that the Gumpert brothers had expanded yet again to now three different
locations.

Albert Gumpert and his brothers did not allow setbacks, such as being robbed, to stop
them from growing their company and prospering. Following the business model that came
about from the Industrial Revolution, the three brothers planned to further advance their
company once again. Though the exact year is unknown, at some point during the 1860s, the
Gumpert Bros. company began manufacturing and selling their own cigars in addition to their
imports, which turned out to be one of the best decisions in the company’s history. In fact, by the
end of the year 1868, the same year in which the Gumpert Bros. had been robbed, there were 70
different licensed cigar manufacturers in the Second District of Pennsylvania (Document U). Of
these 70 manufacturers, only 10 of them had manufactured more than 10,000 cigars in October
that year. Out of these 10 manufacturers, the Gumpert Bros. led with a whopping 100,142 cigars
manufactured. Following in second, a manufacturer by the name of Geo. Fite had only
manufactured 39,000 cigars that October. Albert Gumpert, along with his brothers, ran the most
dominant cigar company in the region, manufacturing over two and a half times more cigars than
the second leading competitor. By 1880, the Gumpert Bros. were documented to have owned
four factories alongside their stores, which were located at 115, 117, 119, and 121 South 23rd
Street (Document Z).

This immense success may have been a large part of the reason for Albert's relocation. In
1870, he moved to 1545 Vine, a relatively small Northward change in location. For reasons
unbeknownst, he only stayed there for a year, perhaps because of the furthered distance from his
growing Cigar company. Regardless, he relocated again, this time to 1313 Pine. The place was
about 8 blocks South of the former, and a decent bit closer to the family business. Today, it is a
small parking lot, but from 1871 up until 1878 it was where Albert Gumpert resided.16 He lived
here until the year after when he made another close move to 1610 Vine, another housing unit in
Center City, Philadelphia (Document AA). Because of the several housing switches, it can be
inferred that Albert and his family were put pretty well off as a result of Gumpert Bros.'s success.

Despite this success, Albert remained a humble family man and kept in close touch with
his mother. Fanny Gumpert wrote songs that she sent over to the Musical Emporium of Mr.
Louis Myer, on 1413 Chestnut Street. She wrote primarily in German, though, so Albert helped
translate these songs into English before they were sent over, including a song named
“Bittersweet Pleasures,” sent over in 1870 (Document X). This implied a close relationship
between Albert and his mother as the Gumpert Bros. business grew. While he and his father
didn’t have very much time with each other, Albert and his mother built a strong relationship in
America together.

At some point during his life in Philadelphia, Albert Gumpert married Anna M. Gumpert.
There is nearly no documentation about their relationship, but it can be inferred from several
sources that their marriage occurred in the early 1880s. In 1882 Albert made another move,
however, this one was bigger than most before. He relocated to 615 N 40th, a housing unit in
West Philadelphia, far from the hustle and bustle of Center City. This move to a more remote
area, away from business may have detailed a period where Albert wanted to settle down with
the woman he loved, Anna. In 1883 he found a place on 36th and Walnut, near the last house,
where he and his wife spent almost the rest of their lives. Furthermore, it can be inferred based
on societal norms at the time, that their marriage was not far before their first and only child,
Helen Gumpert who was born in 1885.

Little was recorded about Albert Gumpert and the cigar company during the 1870s and
the 1880s, which may mark the beginning of his relationship with Anna and the downfall of
Gumpert Bros. Albert, along with his siblings, seemingly began to settle down. They had worked
hard and earned their keep. Additionally, this time was one of the grievances for Albert. His
mother, Fanny, died on April 10th, 1881, and if that wasn’t enough, his brother, Gustavus died a
year later, on September 21st, 1882. Albert may have needed a break from business and time to
grieve. After zero discovered traces of the names Albert Gumpert or Gumpert Bros. in
newspapers for nearly a decade, the Gumpert Bros. appeared in an envelope from 1888 which
stated that the office and salesroom at 1341 Chestnut Street, the original main cigar shop, was
moved to 728 Chestnut Street (Document AC).

16
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/173271822:2469?tid=196054837&pid=35256480478
0&queryId=bb46a209-14dd-463a-9475-94571b7fc4d7&_phsrc=pcn298&_phstart=successSource
 Albert wasn’t done with the company quite yet, though the prosperity and success it had
once seen would never be the same again. While he was unknowingly nearing the end of his life,
Albert continued his craft with the Gumpert Bros. Around this time, in the late 1880s, the
Progressive era was beginning to come to fruition. In urban settings, movements against political
corruption and laissez-faire ideology that fought for better and safer working conditions spread
throughout the public. It could be inferred that Albert Gumpert and his brothers were supporters
of this progressivism, as in October of 1889, the Gumpert Bros. made a contract with
Cigarmakers’ Union No. 100 to grant increased wages to 200 of their employees (Document
AE). However, this would later cause issues for the company. Only a year after the Gumpert
Bros. increased wages for their workers, the Tariff Act of 1890 was passed under William
McKinley’s presidency, raising the average duty on imports to nearly 50%. This tariff led to
increased cost of imported tobacco, and alongside increased wages for workers and keener
competition, the Gumpert Bros. along with many other cigar manufacturers were forced to
advance prices of their products, which presumably resulted in less business (Document AG).

After residing in Philadelphia for 31 years and working hard at the Gumpert Bros.
Company for nearly 30, Albert Gumpert began making plans to travel back to his home country
of Germany, presumably for vacation or nostalgic reasons. On the 11th of June in 1889, Albert
Gumpert was issued a passport, along with his wife Anna, authorizing his travel to Germany,
stating that he traveled with intent to return to the United States and “with the purpose of
residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein” (Document AD). It’s uncertain as to
why, but before he left, Albert made one last move, not far from his previous home, to 4042
Walnut. Then finally, in 1893, Gumpert headed to the port in New York, where he embarked on a
ship headed to the port of Liverpool. After arriving in England, he made his way to Heidelberg,
Germany and what followed is largely unknown.

On the 2nd of June in 1894, Albert Gumpert died at 46 years of age in Heidelberg.
According to Gumpert’s tombstone, he had a battle “with [a] fitful fever” before passing in
peace. The cause of death written on Gumpert’s death record simply says, “neurasthenia,” which
is a dated medical diagnosis that was given to patients with vague symptoms of general fatigue,
malaise, and weakness of the nerves (Document AJ).17 Though it remains a mystery what the
truly exact cause of Gumpert’s death was, many different infectious diseases ran rampant
alongside typhoid fever, diphtheria, malaria, etc. during this time, and anything of the like may
have been what brought an end to Albert Gumpert’s life.18 His body was transported back to the
United States by Hudson County of Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 13th, 1894, and on June 18th,
1894, Gumpert was buried at the Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Following Albert Gumpert’s death, the legacy of the Gumpert Bros. cigar company
remained in the hands of the final standing brother, Richard Gumpert until he died in 1904.19 By
1906, the company had seemingly been sold off to a man named James. J Tracy, who was
17
“Neurasthenia.” MEpedia, 21 Apr. 2023, me-pedia.org/wiki/Neurasthenia.
18
Maeda H. The Rise of the Current Mortality Pattern of the United States, 1890-1930. Am J Epidemiol. 2018 Apr
1;187(4):639-646. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwx203. PMID: 28595333; PMCID: PMC7314254.
19
“Gumpert Family Tree.” Ancestry,
www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/196054837?cfpid=352564804780&dtid=100. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.
granted a charter to do business under the name of the Gumpert Bros. Company (Document AL).
This transfer of ownership likely led to a cease in operations as the name Gumpert slowly faded
from documents and records past 1900. In the end, Gumpert Bros. held a strong legacy as one of
the leading cigar manufacturers in the state, nearly tripling the production of the second leading
producer. By carrying multiple flagship brands, such as Pollywogs (Document Z) and British
Queen cigars (Document AM), selling quality Havana cigars ranging in price from $50 to $100
(~$1000 to $2900 in 2024) (Document P), and opening both retail and wholesale stores, the
Gumpert Bros. company had become one of the most varied and distinctive cigar shops of their
time.

Despite losing many fragments of his life to the test of time, Albert Gumpert will be
remembered as an accomplished businessman, one with a close relationship to his brothers and
family. Starting from humble beginnings in Bernburg, Germany to co-owning one of the most
dominant cigar manufacturers and shops in the Philadelphia area, Gumpert is a true rendition of
the American dream. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and carry on the legacy of
his father’s life work, donated to charitable organizations, and appreciated his brothers and
workers. Through tough times, Albert Gumpert continued to overcome his hardships and,
ultimately, was able to cultivate a life of success and prosperity. Today, like countless others, he
lies on the ground with simply a tombstone signifying his existence. However, the work of this
project will cement Albert Gumpert’s story in existence. His honor and contribution to mankind
shall not be forgotten.