Jacob H. Hohenstein was born May 8, 1893, in Manhattan, New York, the son of Moritz and Leontina Hohenstein. He had a brother, Gustave, also called Gus. Jacob's father Moritz worked as a stationery salesman, and by 1930 was living in Los Angeles and selling radios. The family traveled to Europe in 1896, and returned by way of Antwerp, Belgium, to New York City on the S.S. Southwark. By 1915, Jacob (also known as "Jack") was working as a school teacher. In 1917 he married Ruth N. Kleinfeld in Manhattan. When he registered for the draft later that same year he gave his address as East 79th Street, and his occupation as "advertising manager," working for the Emerson Phonograph Company. His physical description was, "tall, with light blue eyes and light brown hair.
In 1930 Jacob and Ruth, with their daughter Shirley (born approximately 1929), were living in Queens on Seventh Avenue. Jacob worked as a radio salesman, and the family had a radio set, and a live-in maid. They owned their own home, valued at $15,ooo.
Jacob was again required to register for the draft when WWII began. He was at that time living in Teaneck, New Jersey, and working for the Kahle Engineering Corporation.
During the late 1940's to 1950's Jacob and Ruth traveled extensively. In 1949 they took the Cunard White Star Line ship S.S. Caronia to Southampton, England. Jacob stated he was an engineer, and their destination was Grosvenor House in London. In 1951 they (along with Jacob's mother "Tina") traveled from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii on the S.S. Lurline. In 1955 they returned from Bermuda on the S.S. Ocean Monarch; and in 1956 they embarked from Cristobal, C.Z. (Canal Zone) to New York on the S.S. Cristobal.
In 1974 Jacob was listed in "Who's Who in the East," and in 1975-1977 in "Who's Who in Finance and Industry."
Jacob H. Hohenstein died May 30, 1978, at New York Presbyterian/ The Allen Hospital, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: New York, New York Birth Index, 1878-1909; U.S. Social Security Death Index; New York, New York Marriage Index, 1866-1937; 1905 and 1915 New York State Census; 1900, 1910 and 1930 U.S. Federal Census; U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; U.S. WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942; New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960; Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959; Biography and Genealogy Master Index.