Merchant. Lived in Walker Terrace.

Obtained employment with the Barons Oppenheim (family friends from Germany), merchant furriers in London, rising to position of manager of the firm.

JOHN MATTHEW KRAUSHAAR, employed as senior clerk or manager of JOHN MORITZ OPPENHEIM’s Company, had been named as a beneficiary in JMO’s original Will of 1853.

The 1861 Census of 84/85 Cannon St. West shows J. M. Oppenheim age 59 (+Male Secretary & 4 Servants) — Fur & Skin Merchant; born HAMBURGH (sic); Naturalised British Subject; Blind.

Transcription by Peter Herbert Kraushaar, April 2001 of a photocopied handwritten Will and Codicil of JOHN MORITZ OPPENHEIM who died at 85 Cannon Street West in the City of London (New Cannon Street), 9th January 1864, born about 1801 in Hamburg. The interest by P. H. Kraushaar in this Will stems from the fact that John Matthew Kraushaar was an employee of this wealthy Fur & Skin Merchant, as first mentioned in some Kraushaar memoirs which added that the two families had been friends in Germany before the first UK Kraushaar immigrant Johann Conrad had arrived in London about 1760.

It was hoped that this lengthy Will summarised in The Times of the period might throw some light on the background and location of the families in Germany in the early 18th century. The document certainly gives some interesting pointers to be followed up, and reveals (page 3) that John Matthew Kraushaar would have been a beneficiary in the Will if he had survived his employer. Many names of J. M. Oppenheim’s relatives are mentioned, but he himself was unmarried. He was blind for at least 10 years before his death. The London head office of the international business was at 84/85 Cannon Street West. (Here J.M.Kraushaar died from heart disease in 1857).

A partner Frederick Augustus Schroeter died 9 January 1876. He was a nephew by marriage to J. M. Oppenheim. He was the main beneficiary among many in England and abroad. In the Codicils of F.A. Schroeter’s will, William Conrad Kraushaar W.C. Kranshaw (sic) — fifth child of John Matthew K., appears as Witness.

Frederick Augustus Schroeter’s brother F. (Frederick) Emit Schroeter was named on J. M. Oppenheim’s death certificate as informant—present at the death at 85 Cannon Street West. The Schroeter family home was at Mottingham, Kent.