Howard Lutter was one of my great grandfathers. He was (and still is) known for his musical talent, expressed mainly in his creation of player piano rolls. His own family had little contact with him, though, and most of my information about him is from my research of public records.
Howard Harry Lutter was born June 10, 1889 in Newark,
Essex County, New Jersey, at 51 Lincoln Street to Herman
Lutter and Clara Uhl. Howard reported
his own birth 46 years later, perhaps to apply for a Social Security account
number. Howard's father, Herman Lutter, was born around
1860 in Thuringia. Howard's mother, Clara Uhl, was born
in Newark around 1865. Clara's father,
David Uhl, was born in 1836 in Hesse.
Clara's mother, Clara Patschke, was born in 1841 in SachsenAnhalt.
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| Birth record for Howard Harry Lutter Available at the New Jersey State Archives, Trenton |
Howard's parents were married January 24, 1888 in Newark. The marriage was brief. From the divorce records of Herman Lutter and Clara Uhl,
we learn that the couple split in November of 1888, eight months before the birth of Howard.
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| Herman Lutter v Clara R Lutter Chancery Court of New Jersey 1894 Available through New Jersey State Archives (off-site storage) |
This father-son relationship was probably strained. When Herman died in 1924, he left only $5 to
Howard. In comparison, Herman requested a tombstone costing "not less than $600 dollars" and left $2000 to Howard's step-mother, who he was also divorcing. (I still have not found such a tombstone.)
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| Estate of Herman Lutter M6226, filed July 16, 1924 County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey Available at the New Jersey State Archives |
The 1895 New Jersey state census shows young Howard "Rutter" with his mother, Clara, and her family in Newark.
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| 1895 New Jersey State Census Newark, 7th Ward, 6th District, Essex County Family 144, page 22 Ancestry.com |
In the 1900 federal census, Howard Uhl is listed in the
household of his maternal grandmother, Clara Uhl [Patschke] at 64 Boston Street
in Newark. Residing with them is
Howard's mother, Clara, and his maternal aunt, Lilly.
Howard Lutter first appeared in the Newark City Directory in 1908, working as a clerk at the Prudential Insurance Company.
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| 1900 United States Federal Census Newark, 7th Ward, Essex County, New Jersey 64 Boston Street Ancestry.com |
Howard Lutter first appeared in the Newark City Directory in 1908, working as a clerk at the Prudential Insurance Company.
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| 1908 Newark City Directory by The Price and Lee Company Available at Fold3.com |
On September 17, 1910, Howard Lutter married Laura
[Ethel] Winterton in Newark. She was the
daughter of William Winterton and Catherine Dunn, formerly of Matawan,
Monmouth County, New Jersey. Howard
listed his occupation as "Pianist."
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| New Jersey State Marriage Record Howard Lutter and Laura E Winterton September 17, 1910 in Newark Available at New Jersey State Archives |
Howard Harry Lutter registered for the World War I draft
in Newark. He gave an address of 22 East
Alpine Street in Newark. His occupation
was Pianist- Master maker- at Bennett & White, Inc, at 67 Goble Street in
Newark. He claimed exemption from the
draft because of "Objection to all forms of war, fighting; Indispensable
to conduct of his business."
In the 1911 Newark City Directory, Howard is listed as a musician for the first time. In the 1915 directory, he is removed to New York City. He turns up in Philadelphia instead for the birth of his first child, Clifford Lutter, born March 18, 1915 at University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The family's address was 1534 Arch Street in Philadelphia. Clifford's wife, Beulah Cook (my paternal grandmother), explained to me that Howard was performing in Philadelphia at the time Clifford was born.
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| World War [One] Draft Registration Cards Ancestry.com |
In the 1911 Newark City Directory, Howard is listed as a musician for the first time. In the 1915 directory, he is removed to New York City. He turns up in Philadelphia instead for the birth of his first child, Clifford Lutter, born March 18, 1915 at University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The family's address was 1534 Arch Street in Philadelphia. Clifford's wife, Beulah Cook (my paternal grandmother), explained to me that Howard was performing in Philadelphia at the time Clifford was born.
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| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Birth Clifford Lutter, born March 18, 1915 in Philadelphia |
Howard's second child, Beryl Lutter, was born in 1918 at
Newark Beth Israel Hospital in Newark.
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| State of New Jersey Certificate of Birth Baby [Beryl] Lutter, born April 1, 1918 in Newark |
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| The copyright date on this sheet music is 1919. |
The 1920 federal census provides the only snapshot of the
Howard and Laura living together. They resided at 194
Chadwick Avenue in Newark. Howard's
occupation was "musician."
With them were their two children, Clifford,
age 4, and Beryl, age 1.
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| 1920 United States Federal Census Newark, 16th Ward, Essex County, New Jersey 194 Chadwick Avenue Ancestry.com |
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| Finding small blurbs such as this one provide some insight into the professional life of Howard Lutter. |
In the 1930 federal census, Howard H. Lutter was residing
at 171 Ampere Parkway in Bloomfield. His
occupation was "sound effect" at Vitaphone. With him was his wife, Fiorita, children
Rita, age 16, Clifford, age 15, and Beryl, age 12. Laura Winterton is lodging at a private
residence nearby. Fiorita is actually Fiorita Lorenze, wife of James Howard Winnie. They were the parents of Irene, born 1912, and Fiorita or Rita, born 1914.
In the Newark City Directories in the 1930s, Howard Lutter was listed as a sound engineer in Brooklyn, while Rita was working as a swimming instructor. In the 1941 directory, Howard's occupation shifted to "sound engineer and janitor's helper." In the 1940 federal census, Howard Lutter was residing at 59 Peck Avenue in Newark with Rita. He gave his occupation as janitor, temporary, Board of Education. He reported working 17 weeks in 1939 and earning $1445.
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| 1930 United States Federal Census 171 Ampere Parkway, Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey Ancestry.com |
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| 1920 United States Federal Census 453 North Eighteenth Street, Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey Ancestry.com |
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| State of New Jersey Birth Certificate Irene Emilie Winnie, born September 24, 1912 in Newark |
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| State of New Jersey Birth Ceritificate Fioreda Louisa Winnie, born July 14, 1914 in Newark |
In the Newark City Directories in the 1930s, Howard Lutter was listed as a sound engineer in Brooklyn, while Rita was working as a swimming instructor. In the 1941 directory, Howard's occupation shifted to "sound engineer and janitor's helper." In the 1940 federal census, Howard Lutter was residing at 59 Peck Avenue in Newark with Rita. He gave his occupation as janitor, temporary, Board of Education. He reported working 17 weeks in 1939 and earning $1445.
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| 1940 United States Federal Census 59 Peck Avenue, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey Ancestry.com |
Howard Lutter registered for the World War II draft in
1942. He listed his address as 59 Peck
Avenue in Newark; wife Rita; employer Newark Board of Education.
Howard's last entry in the Newark City directories was in 1947. [The collection of Newark City Directories at Fold3.com stops at 1923. Other years are housed at the Newark Public Library on Washington Street.]
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| World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 Collection at Ancestry.com |
Howard's last entry in the Newark City directories was in 1947. [The collection of Newark City Directories at Fold3.com stops at 1923. Other years are housed at the Newark Public Library on Washington Street.]
In 1954, Howard Lutter appeared on the Los Angeles,
California voter rolls.
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| 1954 Registered Voters of Los Angeles California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 Collection at Ancestry.com |
My aunt recalls meeting Howard when she was very young. This was probably in 1955 when Howard's mother Clara died, which would have caused Howard to fly back to Newark from Los Angeles.
Howard Lutter died March 3, 1959 at the City of Hope
Medical Center in Duarta, Los Angeles County, California. The cause of death was chronic granulocytic leukemia
(also called chronic myelogenous leukemia).
He was buried at Glen Haven Memorial Park. A kind soul photographed the grave for me. According to the death certificate,
Howard worked as a sound technician for twenty years for the Board of Education
in New Jersey.
Howard's first wife, Laura Winterton, died in Newark in 1962.
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| State of California Certificate of Death Howard Lutter, died 1959 |
Howard's first wife, Laura Winterton, died in Newark in 1962.
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| State of New Jersey Certificate of Death Laura Lutter, died 1962 Available through mail by the New Jersey Department of Health |
Fiorita "Rita" Lorenze died in 1969.
I continue to research Howard Lutter and find out more about the man and his life. |
| State of California Certificate of Death Fiorita "Rita" Lutter, nee Lorenze, died 1969 |
