Joseph Zinszer

Joseph Anton Zinszer (born March 1, 1878 in Louisville, Kentucky; died October 24, 1952) was the son of Peter Zinszer and proprietor, with his mother, Rosa Zinszer-Wilder, of Zinszer's Mammoth Furniture House after his father's death in 1895.

In November 1896 the 17-year-old Zinszer married 16 year-old Martha Lorena Dozier, the daughter of physician Orion Dozier. The couple had one daughter, Josephine born on April 29, 1899. By they time she was born, however, the Zinszers had separated. The Dozier family alleged that Joseph had fallen for Rosa Briggs, a "strumpet" at Madame Barfield's house, and gone to live with her in Montgomery. In August 1899 after Lorena had sworn out a writ of detinue to recover he possessions from their home in Woodlawn, Zinszer went to the Dozier's home, either as part of an attempt to reconcile, or to intimidate. A violent confrontation ensued between him and his brothers-in-law. Zinszer was injured and taken to the home of of his stepfather, Dr W. H. Wilder to be treated.

Despite the trouble, by 1904 Zinszers had returned to his wife and they were, for a time, reconciled. In July 1914 it was claimed that Zinszer engaged in a, "disgraceful incident in a store operated by him with the wife of a respected citizen of Birmingham." He was arrested and fined for the incident and, in order to shield his property from a damage claim from the husband of the other party, agreed to convey his claim to his father's estate to his wife's sister, Irma Dozier, with the understanding that she would convey it to Lorena.

In 1917 Lorena divorced Zinszer and married Benjamin Jennings. Meanwhile Zinszer transferred the deed to his remaining property to his mother to prevent it from being claimed as alimony in the divorce.

Zinszer later married Birdie Monroe. He died in 1952 , followed by his wife four days later. They are buried in the Zinszer mausoleum at Oak Hill Cemetery.

References

• "Beat Him And Fired Pistol at Young Joe Zinszer" (August 28, 1899) The Birmingham News
• "Women Deny Dry Laws Aid Zinszer" (May 22, 1921) The Birmingham News